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http://www.archive.org/details/withambulancedurOOryan 



WITH AN AMBULANCE 



DURING THE 



FRANCO-GERMAN WAR 

PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND ADVENTURES 
WITH BOTH ARMIES 

I 870- I 87 I 



By CHARLES E. RYAN, F.R.C.SJ., M.R.C.P.I. 

KNIGHT OF THE ORDER OF LOUIS II. OF BAVARIA 



WITH PORTRAIT AND MAPS 



NEW YORK 

CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 

153-157 FIFTH AVENUE 

1896 



^^^^-t 



ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY PRESS. 



TO 

JAMES TALBOT POWER, 

MY OLD FRIEND AND SCHOOLFELLOW, 

I DEDICATE 

THE FOLLOWING PAGES. 



Call No. 


LIBRARY OP CONGRESS - 

DC285.R98 


Author 


Ryan 


Title 


With An Ambulance Di 


War 1870-71 


Vol. 
Date 


Copy 

. Block & It 

Rebind style C. 


[ 


\ 6 ( rev 


V72) 



PREFACE. 

Ere I attempt to set before the public this slight 
record of my experiences during the Franco- 
German War, I must first disclaim all pretence 
to literary merit. 

It was written in 1873, and is simply an em- 
bodiment of a series of notes or jottings, taken 
during the war in my spare moments, together 
with the contents of a number of descriptive 
letters to my friends. They were written solely 
for them, and nothing was farther from my mind 
at the time than the idea of publication. 

Thus, they remained in a recess of my study 
for nearly a quarter of a century, until a new 
generation had grown up around me ; and doubt- 
less, but for their friendly importunity, there they 
would have lain until the memory of their author, 
like the ink in which they were written, had 
faded to a blank. 

I would ask my readers to bear in their 
kindly recollection that the scope of such a work 
as the following must of necessity be limited. 

As a medical man, I had at all times and in 



VI PREFACE. 

all places my duties to perform ; hence I have 
been unable to be as elaborate as other circum- 
stances might warrant, 

I would also remind them (and every one 
who has been through a campaign will know) 
how vague and uncertain is the information which 
subordinates possess of the general movements 
of the army with which they are serving. 

It happens occasionally that they are wholly 
ignorant of events occurring around them, the 
news of which may have already reached the 
other side of the world. 

Again, I am greatly impressed with the diffi- 
culty of representing, in anything like adequate 
language, those scenes — some of which have 
already been delineated by the marvellous pen of 
M. Zola in La Ddbacle — which the general public 
could never have fancied, still less have realised, 
except by the aid of a masterly exposition of facts 
such as that stirring chronicle of the war has 
given. In it the writer has dealt rather with 
history as it occurred, than invented an imaginary 
tale ; and those who were eye-witnesses of Sedan 
can add little to his description. 

For many reasons, therefore, I am filled with, 
the sense of my own incompetence to do justice 
to my subject. But I console myself with the 
reflection that my theme is full of interest to the 
present generation. Nor does it appear a vain 
undertaking if one who was permitted to see much 



PREFACE. Vll 

of both sides should give his impressions as they 
occurred, and in the language he would have used 
at the time. My feeling throughout has been 
that of a witness under examination. I have 
endeavoured to narrate the incidents which I 
saw, certainly with as close an approach to the 
reality as I could command, and, if in a somewhat 
unvarnished tale, yet, as I trust, have set down 
nought in malice. I have added no colour which 
the original sketch did not contain ; and have 
been careful not to darken the shading. 

Charles E. Ryan. 

Glenlara, Tipperary, 
January^ 1896. 



CHAPTER L 

FROM DUBLIN TO PARIS VIA BRUSSELS.— THE WAR 
FEVER. — LEVIES TO THE FRONT. 

The first question friends will naturally ask is, 
how I came to think of going abroad to take part 
in the struggle between France and Germany, 
what prompted me to do so, and by what 
combination of circumstances my hastily arranged 
plans were realised. 

These points I will endeavour to explain. 
From the outset of the war I took a deep interest 
in the destinies of France, and warmly sympathised 
with her in her affliction. I longed earnestly to 
be of some service to her ; indeed, my enthusiasm 
was so great at the time that I would even have 
fought for her could I have done so. I was then 
studying medicine in Dublin, and was in my 
twenty-first year. Just about the time of the 
battles of Weissenburg and Worth nearly every 
one in Dublin was collecting old linen to make 
cha7^pie for the French wounded ; and, as I could 
do nothing else, I exerted myself in getting to- 
gether from my friends all the material I could 
procure for the purpose. Day by day news 



2 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. i. 

poured in of French defeats following one an- 
other in close succession, with long lists of killed 
and wounded ; while among other details I 
learnt that the French were very short of medical 
men and skilled dressers, and that the sufferings 
of the wounded were, in consequence, beyond 
description. I thought to myself, " Now is my 
opportunity. If I could but get out to those poor 
fellows I might render them some substantial 
assistance ; and what an amount of suffering 
might one not alleviate did one but give them 
a draught of cold water to appease their agonising- 
thirst ! " 

For a few days these thoughts occupied my 
mind almost to the exclusion of every other. It 
happened one evening, when I was returning by 
train from Kingstown, that I met Dr. Walshe, 
surgeon to Jervis Street Hospital. During the 
course of our conversation, which was upon the 
then universal topic of the Franco-German War, 
he remarked that if he were unmarried and as 
young and active as I was, he would at once go 
over to France, and seek a place either in a 
military field hospital or in an ambulance, or 
endeavour to get into the Foreign Legion, which , 
was then being enrolled, adding, that he greatly 
wondered no one as yet had left Dublin with this 
object. I replied, " I shall be the first, then, to 
lead the way " ; and there and then made up my 
mind to set out. 



CH. I. LEAVING HOME. 3 

It was the 12th of August, 1870. 

I endeavoured to discover some kindred spirit 
who would come out with me and share my ad- 
ventures, but not one could I find. Those who 
had not very plausible reasons at hand, to dis- 
guise those which perhaps they had, laughed at 
my proposal, and appeared to look upon me as 
little better than a mad fellow. How could I 
dream of going out alone to a foreign country, 
where the fiercest war of the century was raging ? 
Even some of my professors joined in the laugh, 
and good-humouredly wished me God-speed and 
a pleasant trip, adding that they were sure I 
should be back again in a few days. Two 
of them had, in fact, just returned from Paris, 
where they could find nothing to do ; and they 
reported that it was dangerous to remain longer, 
as the populace were marching up and down the 
streets in. the most disorderly fashion, and strangers 
ran no small risk of being treated as Prussian spies. 

All this was unpleasant to hear ; but I was de- 
termined not to be thwarted ; and so, portmanteau 
in hand, I stepped on board the Kingstown boat. 
It was the 15th August, a most glorious autumn 
evening, and the sea was beautifully calm. I now 
felt that my enterprise had begun, and as I stood 
on deck watching the beautiful scenery of Dublin 
Bay receding from my view, the natural re- 
flection occurred that this might be the last time I 
should see my native land. I was leaving the 



4 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. i. 

cherished inmates of that bright Httle spot, which 
I now more than ever felt was my home. It 
would be my first real experience of the world, 
and I was about to enter upon the battle of life 
alone. 

Arriving in London on the morning of the 
1 6th, and having spent the day with some of my 
school friends, in the evening I went on board 
the Ostend boat at St. Katharine's wharf. We 
were to start at four o'clock next morning. I 
slept until I was awakened by the rolling of the 
vessel out at sea. The boat was a villainous little 
tub, and appeared to me to go round like a tee- 
totum. We had an unusually long and rough 
passage of sixteen hours, and I was fearfully ill 
the whole time. When we arrived at Ostend, so 
bad was I that I could not leave my cabin until 
long after everybody else. Hence a friend of 
mine, Monsieur le Chevalier de Sauvage 
Vercourt, who had come up from Liege to meet 
me, made certain when he failed to perceive me 
among the passengers that I had missed the boat. 
On inquiring, however, of the steward if any one 
had remained below he discovered me. 

My friend gave me two letters of introduction, 
one to M. le Vicomte de Melun, which subse- 
quently got me admitted into '' La Societe 
Fran^-.aise pour le secours aux blesses de terre et 
de mer " ; the other to the Mayor, M. Levy, asking 
him whether he could find a way for me into the 



CH. I. IMPRESSIONS OF BELGIUM. 5 

Army as an assistant. When I had pulled myself 
together a bit, Vercourt and I dined together in 
the open air, at a Cafe on the Grande Promenade. 

It was the fashionable hour, and every one 
seemed to be in gala dress. Half, at least, of 
those we saw were English, the remainder French 
and Belgians. It is a curious sensation, that of 
being for the first time in a foreign country, where 
one's whole surroundings differ from all one 
has been accustomed to see and hear in one's 
native land. My boyish experience made every- 
thing, however trivial, a subject of interest. As I 
walked through the town with Vercourt, I was 
greatly struck by the civility of the people, their 
cleanliness and the neatness of their persons and 
dress, and above all by the absence of any visible 
wretchedness even among the poor. 

These points occupied our attention and 
conversation until we found ourselves on our way 
to Brussels. The country through which we 
passed, though really most unattractive, had for 
me many points of interest, and gave me an 
agreeable picture of what was meant by "foreign 
climes ". 

The bright clean cottages and farmsteads, 
with their gardens and flowers, contrasted lament- 
ably to my mind with the tumble-down dilapidated 
hovels of mud, surrounded by slush and water, 
which I had been accustomed to see from my 
childhood. Everything bespoke the comfort, 



WITH AN AMBULANCE. CH. i. 

happiness, and prosperity of these people. The 
neatly trimmed hedges with which every field is 
fenced, the lines of poplars skirting the road- 
ways and canals give a surprisingly smart and 
cultivated aspect to the whole face of the country. 

1 was greatly struck by the blue smocks and 
wooden sabots of the men and women. Even the 
children in the rural parts of Belgium wear these 
wooden shoes. During our stoppages at the 
different stations the Flemish jargon, as in 
my untravelled ignorance I called it, of the 
rustics amused me. I noticed in one part of 
the country that all the pumps had their handles 
at the top, and that these moved up and down 
like the ramrod of a gun. It was novel to see the 
people on stools working them. x\t ten o'clock 
that night we arrived in Brussels, and put up at 
the Hotel de Suede. 

My friend and I rose early next morning, 
and went sight-seeing. He was an habitud of the 
place, so our time was spent to the best advantage. 
That Brussels is a most charming town was 
my first impression ; and I think so still. My 
delight at seeing the Rue de la Reine and the 
Boulevards leading from it I shall not easily 
forget. A city beautifully timbered and abound- 
ing in fountains, grass, and flowers, was indeed a 
novelty to one whose experience of cities had 
been gained in smoky London and dear dirty 
Dublin. In the Rue de la Reine I remarked the 



c H. I. FIRST GLIMPSES OF THE WORLD. 7 

two carriage-ways, divided by a grove of trees. 
This plantation consisted of full-grown limes, elms, 
sycamores, arbutus, and acacias. There was yet 
another row on the footpath, next the houses. 
The breadth of this long Boulevard may be about 
that of Sackville Street. It was a beautiful sunny 
day, and as I sauntered along beneath the trees 
something new met my eye at every turn. I was 
struck by such a simple matter as seeing the 
carriages dash into the courtyards through the 
open gates, instead of stopping in the street, whilst 
the occupants were making a morning call. Then 
the high-stepping horses and the gaudy equipages 
were enough, as I thought, to dazzle the youthful 
mind. One could live here a lifetime and never 
know that such a thing as dirt existed, — at all 
events, in the sense with which we were only too 
conversant in some parts of my native land 
twenty-five years ago. 

These simple observations of the boy at his 
first start in life make me smile as I read them 
over. Yet I do not think that I ought to suppress 
them ; for who is there that has not felt the in- 
describable charm of those early days, when the 
commonest things in our journeying fill the mind 
as if they were a wonder in themselves ? And 
what is there in the grown man's travels to equal 
that opening glimpse of a world we have so often 
heard talked about, yet never have seen w^th our 
eyes until now ? 



8 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. i. 

But to return. It was in the Rue du Pont 
that I first saw the tramways. I went in one 
of the cars to the superb Park, which is as fine 
as any in Europe, and of which Brussels is so 
justly proud. It amused me beyond measure 
to see the butchers', bakers', and grocers' boys 
driving about their carts drawn by teams of huge 
dogs, varying in number from one to four. 
While the drivers were delivering their goods 
the poor animals would lie down in their harness 
with their tongues out, until a short chirp 
brought them on their feet again, ready to start. 
This seemed for them the most difficult part, since 
once set going, they went at a great rate, appar- 
ently without much trouble, and rather enjoying 
their task than otherwise. I have seen teams of 
dogs so fresh that they were all barking whilst 
they tore along the street at full speed. In the 
evening the cafes were beautifully illuminated ; 
and seated beneath the trees hundreds of people 
enjoyed their cigarettes and cafe noi?', while they 
discussed, with many and vigorous gesticulations, 
the affairs of Europe. In the afternoon of the 
1 8th I bade good-bye to my kind friend Vercourt, 
who had been so admirable a cicerone to me, and 
took my seat in the train for Paris. 

During our journey I was rudely awakened 
from a sound sleep at one station by every one 
suddenly jumping on their legs and crying out, 
''La doitane ! " while they seized their luggage, and 



CH. I. FRENCH AS SHE IS SPOKE. 9 

rushed out of the train as if it were on fire. If 
you did not do the same you were unceremoniously 
bundled out by the officials. To every inquiry I 
got the same answer, '^ Cest la douane'\ Now 
this word was not in my vocabulary. I may 
observe that at my school French was taught on the 
good old plan, out of Racine and " Telemaque," 
in which commercial terms are not abundant, and 
hence I did not know in the least the meaning of 
^' la dottane''; it might have signified fire, blood 
or murder ; and I was for a long time sorely 
puzzled. I thought in my drowsy confusion 
that some part of the train had broken down, 
and that all the passengers and luggage had 
to be removed with as much haste as possible. 
But when I, a passenger to Paris, saw a fellow 
seize my portmanteau and disappear with it 
through one of the doors, it was too much for 
me ; I went after my effects, collared him, and 
asked him, in the best French I could muster, 
where he was going with my property. A big 
gendarme explained the situation, and pointed 
to a large room, where the rattling of keys and 
opening of boxes soon made his interpretation 
unnecessary. 

On returning to my carriage I found myself 
next a middle-aged gentleman, who, though he 
spoke French fluently to his neighbours, was 
evidently an Englishman. We joined in con- 
versation, and he seemed to know more about 



lO WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. i. 

Ireland and Irish affairs than I did myself^ 
which, in truth, might easily have been. He 
had such a frank, genial manner, and appeared 
to feel so genuine a sympathy, not only with 
my own countrymen, but with poor suffering 
France, that I confided to him my story and 
mission, which evidently pleased him ; and he 
told me that he would get me a cheap billet from 
his landlady in the Hotel de I'Opera, a comfort- 
able hotel centrally situated opposite the new 
Opera House. He had told me his name was 
Steel, but vouchsafed no further information 
about himself. When we arrived in Paris he 
was accosted by several of . the officials as 
Monsieur le General ; and he bade me stay with 
him, and said that he would accompany me tO' 
my hotel. Having, after much tiresome waiting, 
got possession of our luggage, we passed out of 
the station between two lines of soldiers, and 
were carefully and closely inspected before being 
allowed to proceed. A whisper from my new 
friend the General appeared to be a magic pass,, 
for every one seemed to know him. A stalwart 
gendarme demanded my passport, took down my 
name and address, where I last came from, and 
what was my business in Paris, and then let me 
go. When we arrived at the Hotel de I'Opera, 
again the concierge greeted my mysterious 
friend with the title of M. le General, when he 
hurried upstairs, bidding me wait until he came 



CH. I. THE PARISIAN MOB REJOICING. 1 1 

down, and he would go out with me to dine at 
a restaurant. 

As I stepped outside the door and looked 
up and down the Boulevards, I knew at once 
that what I had heard and read of the beauties 
of Paris as seen by night was no fiction, but a 
bright reality. What added to the novelty of 
the scene was that the whole populace seemed 
to be in a fever of excitement. I asked my 
friend what w^as it all about. He told me 
that they were rejoicing because a proclamation 
had just been made from the Mairie of three 
glorious victories won by their arms. This 
accounted for the bands of civilians, thousands in 
each, composed of labourers and artisans, who 
were marching boisterously up and down the 
streets, cheering and singing the " Marseillaise," 
with flags and banners flying of every colour and 
description. The sight was at first appalling, as 
that momentary glance recalled to my mind so 
vividly what I had read about the scenes enacted 
in the streets of Paris during the first Revolution, 
by a similar communistic and ungovernable mob. 
Yet I thought the whole thing good fun ; but 
my friend warned me not to speak, and told me 
to keep out of the streets at night. It was 
dangerous for a stranger to go out after dark, 
since the populace were apt to take him for a spy, 
or as being there in the interest of the enemy, 
and this mio-ht mean instantaneous death. Such 



12 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. i, 

things had occurred lately. We now turned 
into the Cafe Anglais, and dined very well, after 
which my mysterious friend took leave of me 
and disappeared. I only saw him again for five 
minutes a few days subsequently, and have never 
set eyes on him since, nor could I get any satis- 
factory information at the hotel, although they 
informed me that he was a resident in Paris, and 
was often at the Hotel de I'Opera. Perhaps 
some reader of these pages may know more con- 
cerning M. le General Steel than I ever did. 
Who and what was he ? But conjecture is idle 
work, and I must get on with my story. 

Having seen Brussels before Paris, the latter 
did not make that impression which it generally 
does on one who views it for the first time, before 
he has visited any other of the capital cities on 
the Continent, — for Brussels Is a miniature Paris. 
I walked up and down the Boulevards, ob- 
serving everything and everybody, until, feeling 
somewhat tired, I looked at my watch, and found 
to my astonishment that it was nearly one o'clock, 
so I returned to my hotel and went to bed, and 
dreamed of the glories of the city of pleasure. 

Next morning, the 19th, I sallied out in 
quest of the Mansion House to which I had 
been directed. For some time I walked up 
and down the Boulevards in order to make 
observations as to my whereabouts, and to note 
my surroundings. My first great landmark was 



CH. I. VISIT TO THE MAIRIE. 1 3 

the beautiful new Opera House, which is one 
of the sights of Paris. Its massive pillars 
and wonderful display of allegorical figures, all in 
white marble, delighted me — as also did the 
wooded Boulevards with their gorgeous shops 
and all the pleasing sights which met my gaze 
at every turn. 

Having been only a few days in the country, I 
naturally felt a little shy at venturing into anything 
like a long conversation with the natives. Soon, 
however, I mustered up sufficient courage (to be 
w^anting in which was to fail in my errand) to 
ask my way of one of those gaily dressed officers 
of the peace, who, from their gorgeous uniform 
and the dignity of their manners, I had made 
up my mind could be nothing less than majors- 
general of the reserve out for a stroll. 

My bad French elicited from this worthy only 
the most courteous civility, and he took the 
greatest pains to explain to me my route. As I 
went on I felt elated at this first experience of 
the proverbial civility of Frenchmen, and was 
sure that I should find it easy to get on with 
them. 

After some two miles of pleasant rambling, I 
arrived at the Mairie in the Place du Prince 
Eugene ; but found that M. le Maire was out, so 
returned and dined at the Cafe Royale, opposite 
the Madeleine and afterwards visited the church, 
and walked outside it several times. It was 



14 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. i. 

from all sides alike massive and beautiful, nor was 
I disappointed at its interior, though I confess it 
did not impress me so much as the facade. 
Having spent an hour inspecting its details I took 
a cabriolet to the Mansion House, where, having 
sent in Vercourt's letter, I was ushered into the 
presence of M. le Maire, after about ten minutes 
waiting. 

This polished gentleman received me with 
the greatest kindness and civility, but explained 
that he could not procure me a place in the 
Army Medical Department. He referred me 
to rintendance Militaire, Rue St. Dominique, 
which was the Foreign Legion Office. I at 
once started afresh, and, having found out the 
officials to whom I was directed, they informed 
me that they had not the power of giving 
appointments, but that M. Michel Levy, Medicine 
Inspecteur, Val de Grace, was the person to 
whom I should apply, at the same time assuring 
me that there was not the least use in my doing so, 
as the Foreign Legion was fully equipped and all 
the vacancies filled up. Believing this informa- 
tion to be correct, 1 set this last proposition aside 
and kept it in my sleeve as a dernier ressort. 
Although defeated in my object I was not in the 
least discouraged, for I had determined to make 
every effort before confessing myself beaten. 

As I was much fatigued, and it was too 
late to prosecute my plans any further that day, I 



CH. I. TROOPS MARCHING PAST. I 5 

went out for a stroll on the Boulevards. Presently 
I heard the trampling of horses coming down the 
street, mingled with the loud cheering of the 
populace. It was a troop of Cuirassiers, and in 
another minute I was in the midst of a seething 
crowd, and could perceive nothing around me but 
.a sea of hands, hats, and heads in commotion. 
The civilians, who were in a wild state of excite- 
ment, cheered the troops, "Vive les Cuirassiers!" 
while the dragoons in return shouted " A Berlin ! " 
and " Vive la France ! " — not " Vive I'Empereur ! " 
When they had passed, the excitement con- 
tinued in another form, for a desperate-looking 
mob marched up and down in detachments 
as they had done upon the previous night, with 
flags flying, and banners waving, singing all the 
while '' La Marseillaise " and the " Champs de la 
Patrie," with intervening shouts of "A Berlin". 
All this was of great interest to me, especially the 
singing. When the crowd joined in the chorus of 
their National Anthem the effect was something 
never to be forgotten. 

I now went to bed, feeling sleepy and done 
up from sheer excitement. Next day, the 20th 
August, a lovely morning, I found my way to the 
Palais de 1' Industrie, where, after waiting three 
hours in a crowded ante-room, I presented my 
letter to M. le Vicomte de Melun, who came out 
to see me. This kind old gentleman spoke 
graciously, and desired me to come next day. 



l6 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. i, 

when he would give me a place in an Ambulance. 
Fully satisfied this time with the result of my 
efforts I returned with a light heart, and having 
dined in the Rue Royale went out sight-seeing. 
A few hundred paces brought me into the Place 
de la Concorde, and, oh, what an incredibly 
magnificent sight presented itself from the centre 
of that beautiful square ! I passed the rest of the 
evening in the Bois de Boulogne, and rising early 
next morning, full of hope, hastened to the Palais 
de rindustrie, where, without much delay, I saw 
M. de Melun. He informed me with regret that 
every place in the Ambulances about to start had 
been filled up previous to my application. How- 
ever, if I left my letters and certificates and 
came again on Tuesday morning, he would let 
me know^, should there be a vacancy for me in 
any of those which were starting at the end of 
the week. 

This second disappointment greatly annoyed 
me, but I did not give in. As it was Sunday I 
hastened back to High Mass at the Madeleine, 
a grand choral and musical display. The constant 
clink of the money and the click of the beadle's 
staff as he strode along bespangled with gold lace 
and gaudy trappings, made prayer and recollection 
well nigh an impossibility. Coming out of church, 
I met an old schoolfellow of mine, a Parisian, 
with whom I had a long chat and pleasant walk in 
the Tuileries. He pointed out to me the Empress 



CH. I. YOUNG LEVIES TO THE FRONT. IJ 

leaving the Palace by a private way, accompanied 
by some of her ladies-in-waiting. I may remark 
that she wore a dress of grey silk, trimmed with 
black crape. 

During the whole of this day troops con- 
tinued to march through the city, some mere 
regiments of beardless boys, awkward and un- 
soldierlike, but with a true martial spirit, if one 
might judge by the hearty way in which they sang 
as they went along, and joined in the choruses. 

These were the latest levies, and were oroinor to 
the front. Next day, Monday the 22nd, after many 
circuitous wanderings, I made my way to the 
Irish College ; and left my letter of introduction 

to Father M , who was not at home, but was 

expected the following day. When I got back I 
found that the Boulevards and Champs Elys6es 
were thronged with noisy workmen singing the 
" Marseillaise " on their way home from the fortifi- 
cations, where they had been employed in great 
numbers on the extensive works which were being 
now pushed forward night and day. To avoid 
being jostled by the mob I took a place on the top 
of an omnibus. It was dusk, and as we came 
down the Champs Elysees, the beautifully 
illuminated gardens, with their cafes chantants, 
merry-go-rounds and bowers, — surrounded by the 
most fanciful and pretty devices imaginable, and 
lighted up with miniature lamps, — together with 
the lively din of music and singing followed by 



1 8 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. i. 

rounds of applause, made me feel transported for 
the moment to fairyland. But it was a short- 
lived delusion; and who would imagine, with all 
this folly, at once so frivolous and so French, that 
the great tragedy of war was being enacted around 
us ? However, that such was the case even here 
was abundantly evident, for it was the sole 
topic of conversation. Soldiers were everywhere 
in the streets ; the public vehicles and omnibuses 
were crammed with them ; their officers seemed 
to monopolise half the private carriages ; they 
crowded the public buildings, and soldiers' heads 
appeared out of half the street windows. I had 
always heard that Frenchmen were a highly ex- 
citable people, and the truth of that saying was 
never so clearly demonstrated. Here they were 
in their thousands, moving about in a state of 
restless, purposeless commotion, singing songs 
from noon to midnight, and, as It appeared to me, 
most of them quite out of their senses. 

Tuesday, the 23rd August, I went once more 
to try my luck at the Palais de I'lndustrle; 
and M. le Vicomte de Melun again told me 
that there was no vacancy, but my name had 
been placed on the Society's books for an 
appointment, and when the vacancy occurred he 
would communicate with me at the Hotel de 
r Opera. I felt disappointed that every effort up 
to this had been a failure, but consoled myself 
at having gained one point, viz., that of having 



CH. I. COLLECTING FOR THE WOUNDED. 1 9 

been registered as a member of the Red Cross 
Society. 

I now determined to try some of the working 
staff, who, though perhaps less influential than the 
Vicomte, might be able to help me quite as well. 
Not to be daunted, I went to another part of the 
Palais, where I informed a gentleman, who, I 
perceived, was a superintendent and active 
manager, that my name had been placed on the 
Society's books by M. de Melun. This made him 
all attention. He spoke English well, and was 
very civil to me. His name was M. Labouchere, 
^^ Rue Malesherbes. In few words I told him 
the object of my mission, how I wanted to work, 
and was willing to accept a place in any capacity 
whatever, in the service of the wounded. He 
now informed me that there was one vacancy as 
aide in a Belgian Ambulance, and as I was most 
anxious to fill it he had my name put down. He 
gave me the casquet and badge of the Society, 
and told me to come to-morrow for my outfit and 
all necessaries. 

In the meantime I was sent out with eight 
or ten others of the Swiss Ambulance, to collect 
money in the streets through which we passed. 
We went in a body, and had each a little net bag 
at the end of a long pole, very like a landing 
net, but with a longer handle and a smaller 
net. x\s we passed along we cried out, " Pour 
les blesses," and as the omnibuses and carriages 



20 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. i. 

drew up while we were passing, we availed 
ourselves of this opportunity by putting our 
bags up to and sometimes through the windows, 
and landing them in the laps of those within. 
By this means we got heaps of silver pieces, and 
even gold from some of the best dressed person- 
ages. We also put our nets up to the windows, 
wherever we saw them occupied, and into the 
shops. Large crowds gathered along the route, 
and everybody gave something, — a. great many 
two and five franc pieces. It was several hours 
before we reached the railway station, as we went 
very slowly. All knew by my accent that I was 
a foreigner, and perhaps British ; and they seemed 
to like the idea, for they pressed forward to throw 
their coins to me, when there were other nets 
nearer them. When the time of reckoning came 
I found that I had collected more than my 
comrades. I saw ladies in the carriages that 
passed us crying bitterly, and the weeping and 
evident grief of the ambulance men on parting 
with their friends at the railway terminus were 
very touching. Having placed my money in the 
van I returned to the Palais de 1' Industrie, where 
I was introduced to M. le Verdiere, second in 
command in the Belgian Ambulance. He desired 
me to come at nine o'clock next day to get into 
my uniform and prepare for starting. 

Highly pleased at what I considered at last 
a success, I went, as I had previously arranged, 



CH. I. FURTHER DISAPPOINTMENTS. 21 

to see Dr. M at the Irish College. He 

received me very warmly, and introduced me to 
a Chinese bishop with a pigtail, whom I found 
a most intelligent and agreeable man. 

That evening I saw troops going to the front 
in heavy marching order; and although they were 
four abreast, they reached from the Arc de 
Triomphe to within some little distance of the 
Place de la Concorde. On my way home I met 
a man who told me sorrowfully that before 
the war he had been a successful teacher with 
a large class, but that all his pupils were drawn 
in the conscription, and his occupation was 
gone. 

Next morning, the 24th, I was all excitement, 
as I fully expected that this day might see me on 
my way to the front. I hastened to the Palais de 
r Industrie, where M. Labouchere informed me 
of the nature of my appointment in the Belgian 
Ambulance. What was my astonishment when I 
found that I should have ten infirmiers under me, 
for whom I was to be responsible, and to whom I 
must issue orders ! Much as I desired to accept 
this most tempting offer, common sense got the 
better of my ambition ; and I declined, feeling 
conscious that my imperfect knowledge of French 
would prevent my being able to discharge my 
duties with efficiency. 

All this was a disappointment and a humilia- 
tion, but I had now become used to reverses. 



22 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. i. 

My friends, of whom I had already quite a number, 
comforted me by saying that I should be most 
likely sent to Metz, which was full of wounded 
with but few attendants, numbers of the latter 
having been carried off by typhus fever, which 
was making great havoc in the town. I stated 
that I had not the least objection to going if the 
Society wished me to do so ; but I felt that 
I should prefer some other mission. Later 
on in the day, as I was searching for M. La- 
bouchere in the Palais de 1' Industrie, I was 
astonished to perceive that one of the large open 
spaces of the Palais, which was used but yesterday 
for drilling the recruits, now contained rows of 
mounted cannon placed close beside each other, 
while the unmounted guns were piled in lines 
one above another ; great heaps of cannon balls 
were also stacked in the centre, like ricks of turf. 
This change, wrought since the evening before, 
w411 give an idea of the rapidity and energy 
with which the Government plans were being 
executed. Emerging by one of the upper doors 
of the building, I was startled at seeing the whole 
Champs Elysees occupied by masses of soldiers, 
flanked at each side by double rows of cavalry. 
They were being inspected before going to the 
front. It was a splendid sight. I went out 
afterwards to the Bois de Boulogne, where the 
timber next the ramparts was already being cut 
down. There were crowds of men at work on 



CH. I. THE PRIDE OF THE PARISIANS. 23 

the fortifications as I passed through, making 
ready for the siege. 

As it was growing dusk I moved towards 
home, and met on my way a stream of soldiers 
dressed in a most elaborate uniform, differing in 
every way from that of the Line. From the 
enthusiastic reception they met with on all sides, 
and the familiar smiles and nods which they 
exchanged with the admiring citizens, I knew 
that they were the Garde Nationale, the pride of 
the Parisians. 



CHAPTER II. 

I JOIN THE ANGLO-AMERICAN AMBULANCE.^M. DE 
FLAVIGNY'S SPEECH. — TO MEZIERES AND SEDAN. 

August 25th I went to my official quarters full 
of hope, but found that nothing further had been 
decided. M. Labouchere told me that I was 
certain of a place in a French Ambulance, and 
presented my testimonials and papers to the chief 
of the 8th Ambulance, who disappeared with 
them into the committee room, promising to send 
me an answer at once. This he never did, though 
I waited his reply for some hours, until hunger 
compelled me to go in search of dinner, which I 
found in the Boulevard St. Michel, No. 43, Cafe- 
Brasserie du Bas Rhin, where I had as much 
beef as I could wish for. (I was afterwards told 
that nothing but horse flesh was sold at this 
restaurant.) 

I then returned to the Palais de 1' Industrie, 
where I was offered a post in the Medical Staff 
in charge of a train between Paris and Metz. I 
declined, upon the ground of my expecting to 
hear every minute of my having been appointed 
to an Ambulance. Hours passed without a syllable 
(24) 



CH. II. GETTING READY FOR THE SIEGE. 25 

from the Chief of the 8th Ambulance ; and now 
for the first time I felt discouraged, but pulled 
myself together, and again threw myself with 
-energy into the struggle. 

I still had forces in reserve ; for my friend, 

Madame A , lady-in-waiting to the Empress, 

had promised me letters of introduction, which 
I daily expected, but which had not yet arrived. 
As I was whiling away the time conversing with 
■one of the understrappers of the Palais, he told 
me that the siege of Paris by the Prussians was 
confidently expected by most Parisians ; they 
talked of cutting down all the trees around Paris, 
and demolishing the farmsteads and farm produce 
in the vicinity, and my informant observed, " Deja 
on cherche la demolition du Bois de Boulogne ". 

I walked out to the fortifications and saw 
batches of men throwing up mounds, whilst others 
were making excavations beneath the mason-work 
of the permanent bridges, to facilitate their being 
■blown up on the approach of the enemy. Upon 
my return the gar^on at the Hotel showed me 
with much pride his uniform and accoutrements, 
with which he had been presented that day on 
being made a member of the National Guard. 

The loud beating of drums and the clatter and 
-din of horses and men as they passed along the 
Boulevards before dawn, made it easy to be up at 
an early hour next morning, the 26th of August. 

I set out for the Palais de 1' Industrie, where 



26 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. lu 

an order was handed me to hold myself in 
i-eadlness to start that night for the front, so I 
returned quickly to my hotel, paid my bill and 
packed up my traps. I found two letters awaiting- 
me : one from Madame A -, with an introduc- 
tion to Professor Ricord, the Emperor's surgeon ; 
and another from the Princess Poniatowsky, en- 
closing a note to the Count de Flavigny, Presi- 
dent of the Society. They were now of no use, 
as I had been appointed to an Ambulance ; but 
had I got them at first I should have been saved 
many days of anxious waiting. As it afterwards 
turned out, it was my good luck that they did not 
arrive sooner. An order was now issued that all 
strangers should quit Paris ; and a heavy gloom 
seemed to be settling down rapidly over every 
one and everything. The conviction was daily 
growing that the Prussians were approaching 
Paris ; but no one really knew, as every day's 
intelligence contradicted that of the day before. 
There seemed to be a great national competition 
in lying, in which every one manfully struggled 
for the prize. 

At this juncture I was introduced to Dr. 
Frank, second in command of an Ambulance which 
had lately been organised in Paris by a number of 
English and American surgeons, and which was 
known as the Anglo-American. Dr. Frank re- 
ceived me courteously, and appointed me one of 
his sous-aides or dressers. Having given me 



CH. II. THE ANGLO-AMERICANS. 2/ 

directions as to my outfit, he sent me off with 
another young member of the Ambulance, John 
Scott of Belfast, to procure all necessary supplies. 
The pleasure I experienced at finding myself in 
harness at last was beyond expression ; and it 
was not lessened by discovering in my new mate 
a bright, jovial, and witty companion and a 
fellow-countryman to boot. We hurried off to the 
Palais Royal, where we ordered our uniforms, 
knapsacks and kits, and then went out and had a 
chat and a stroll. 

Saturday morning, the 27th, Dr. Frank intro- 
duced me to Dr. Marion Sims, now chef or 
surgeon-in-chief, and also to his staff, which was 
composed of Drs. MacCormac, Webb, Blewitt, 
May, Tilghman, Nicholl, Hayden, and Hewitt, 
and Drs. Wyman and Pratt, as also to Mr. Fred 
Wallace and Harry Sims. Hewitt and I worked 
away for some hours getting the stores ready. 
Having finished this task we went to be photo- 
graphed at Nader's, in full marching kit. I now 
packed up everything I did not want and sent 

them to M. de B 's house (where they 

remained until after the war was over), and made 
my final preparations for starting. I received a 
month's pay in advance from Dr. Frank, so there 
was but little chance of my being hard up for 
money, as we were to be found in everything. 
Colonel Loyd Lindsay's English branch of the 
'' Societe pour le Secours aux Blesses " furnished 



28 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. ii. 

the English contingent of the ambulance with the 
sinews of war ; and of this Dr. Frank was the 
representative. 

On the 28th August I went in full uniform 
to the Madeleine, after which I took all my 
traps to the Palais de 1' Industrie, where I met 
Marion Sims and had a chat with him. He 
addressed me kindly as "my dear boy"; and 
from the gentleness of his manner and his sym- 
pathetic nature, I felt that I should like him very 
much ; and so it afterwards came to pass. We 
all now worked with a will, getting together our 
stores, provisions, horses and waggons, and 
making all ready for the procession, which, 
after a scene of confusion, noise, and excitement, 
left the Palais de 1' Industrie about three o'clock, 
in the following order : — In front, carried by Dr. 
Sims' three charming daughters, the flags of 
England, France, and America ; then the surgeons 
and the assistant surgeons ; after these the 
dressers or sous-aides, of which I was one ; then 
the infirniiers, all fully equipped, with the waggons 
for stores and wounded bringing up the rear. 

While we were standing in our places, in the 
Champs Elysees, waiting for the final start, a 
young girl, pretty, and elegantly dressed in deep 
mourning, stepped up and tried to address 
me, but she sobbed so much that I could with 
difficulty understand what she said. After a 
little time she made her wish intelligible. Should 



CH. II. DEPARTURE FROM PARIS. 29 

her husband ever come across my path in a 
wounded condition, she charged me to be kind to 
him, and to bestow upon him particular care for 
her sake. The earnestness with which she con- 
fided her sorrow to me, a stranger who had 
nothing to recommend him but his youth, well 
nigh overcame me, so that the poor thing very 
nearly had a companion in tears. She gave me 
her card, which I still possess. The girl could 
not have been more than twenty. I tried to say 
something to her that was kind ; but so confused 
and upset was I that I could hardly utter a word. 
Presently the Count de Flavigny came forward 
and addressed us in a long and eloquent speech, 
flattering alike to our nationalities and to our 
cause. 

A death-like silence reigned throughout the 
crowd as he reminded us of the scenes upon 
which we were about to enter ; the cause we were 
to vindicate ; the hardships we were likely to 
undergo ; the good that each of us was bound 
in duty to perform ; the sacrifice of every personal 
consideration, and even of our lives if necessary, 
in the grand and holy cause of the service of the 
wounded. 

There were tears in many eyes, for not a few 
of the bystanders had at that moment friends near 
and dear, in dread suffering and perhaps in the 
agony of death. These few minutes made a 
deep impression upon me. 



30 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. ii. 

I now realised that I was entering upon a 
hazardous campaign, and felt the weight of the 
task that I had undertaken ; and as the word 
'' Marchez'' was given I stepped out stronor in 
mind and body, proud of the privilege which it 
had pleased Providence to bestow upon me, and 
yearning to fulfil that mission of charity which we 
had that day inaugurated. 

As we passed through the streets in the 
order I have already given, the dense crowds 
cheered us along the way to the railway station 
(de I'Est), crying, "Vive les Americains ! " 
"Vive I'Angleterre ! " while the handkerchiefs of 
the ladies waved from all windows. Tears flowed 
abundantly on every side, as they readily do in 
France for less reason than the present one. All 
were delighted at the practical sympathy of the 
foreigners, on behalf of their wounded and suffer- 
ing fellow-countrymen. 

The crowds were so great that we found it 
difficult to make anything like rapid progress, and 
were several hours reaching the station. 

Having arrived at our destination, we took 
our seats in the waiting-room, not knowing 
in the least where we were going, as no one did 
but the chief and Dr. Frank. After waiting a 
couple of hours we got into a train in which we 
started off into the darkness, for it was ten o'clock. 
We travelled all night, and as morning dawned 
arrived at Soissons. Here we learned that we 



CH. II. THE SENTINELS OF SEDAN. 3 1 

were under orders to join MacMahon's army at 
once. As from information received, Dr. Sims 
supposed him to be somewhere in the vicinity of 
Sedan, it was his intention to make for Mezieres, 
a small town in that neighbourhood, which we 
reached on Monday night, 29th August, arriving 
at Sedan the following morning, Tuesday, 30th, 
and remaining there to await further orders. 

As we entered the town I was astonished to 
perceive that not a single soldier was visible, and 
that the sentinels on duty at the gates were 
peasants dressed in blue blouses, bearing guns 
upon their shoulders, a military kepi being the 
only attempt at uniform. 

All was still as we hastened through the 
streets to our quarters, at the Croix d'Or in the 
Rue Napoleon. 



CHAPTER III. 

AT SEDAN. — THE EMPEROR IN TRANSIT.— OUR FIRST- 
RETREAT BEFORE THE PRUSSIANS. — THE CAS- 
ERNE D'ASFELD. 

On the 30th of August we got orders through the 
CoiLrrier des Ambulances , the Vicomte de 
Chizelles, to proceed at once to Carignan, where- 
hard fighting had been going on, and where, we 
were told, the field had been won by the French. 
Accordingly at noon the whole ambulance moved 
out of the town, by the Torcy gate to the railway 
station, a few hundred yards outside the ramparts,, 
whence a special train was to have carried us on 
to the field of our labours. Through some mis- 
management on the part of the French authorities,, 
and through a combination of adverse circum- 
stances, our transport was delayed so long that we 
were unable to leave that evening. The railway 
officials contended that the cause of the delay was 
neglect, on the part of our comptable, to specify 
the exact amount of accommodation required for 
the transport of our waggons, stores, and horses, 
without which we could not work efficiently on* 
the field of battle ; but the real cause of the delay,, 
(32) 



CH. III. A SIGHT OF LOUIS NAPOLEON. 33 

we subsequently discovered, was the capturing 
and blocking of the line by the Prussians, which 
fact was, in French fashion, studiously concealed 
from us. All this was very annoying to our chiefs, 
who were most anxious to get to the front. In 
order, therefore, that we might be able to start at 
daybreak next morning, we took up our quarters 
for that night in the station house. Being much 
fatigued after the excitement of the day we went 
to the bureau, where all our luggage was, and, 
after much ado, got hold of our wraps. There 
was one large waiting-room through which every 
one was obliged to pass in order to enter or leave 
the station, and here I and a number of my com- 
rades stretched ourselves upon the bare boards, 
covered up in our rugs and overcoats. 

Shortly after eleven o'clock, the arrival of a 
train caused us to start to our feet. The Ger- 
mans, we knew, were in the neighbourhood, and 
the thought of a surprise flashed simultaneously 
through the mind of each one, when, to our in- 
tense astonishment, the door opened, and Napoleon, 
with his entire etat major, marshals, and generals, 
walked into the room. 

The Emperor wore a long dark blue cloak and 
a scarlet gold-braided kepi. At first he seemed 
rather surprised at our presence, and for a moment 
or two delayed returning our salute, which he 
eventually acknowledged by a slight inclination of 
the head. He had a tired, scared, and haggard 
3 



34 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. hi. 

appearance, and, besides looking thoroughly ill, 
seemed anxious and impatient. After a few 
moments' delay he hurried off on foot, in the midst 
of his entourage, through the station house, and 
along the road leading to the town of Sedan. 

I and two of my comrades followed until we 
saw the Emperor and his attendants arrive at the 
gate, through which, after some parley with a 
blue-bloused sentry (for there was not a regular 
soldier in the town), they gained admittance. As 
we were about returning to our temporary quarters, 
speculating on the probable future as suggested 
by the scene I have described, we met a party of 
soldiers straggling along, composed of men of 
different regiments, both line and cavalry. We 
addressed one of them, who seemed more tired 
and worn out than the rest. He told us they 
belonged to the 5th and 12th Army Corps, and 
that they had escaped from the affair at Beaumont, 
where, having been several days short of provisions 
and exhausted with hunger and fatigue, the French 
were thoroughly routed. He said that they 
numbered about eighty, and were accompanied 
by an officer whom I afterwards heard give the 
name of De Failly, when challenged by the 
sentry. This was no other than the General 
de Failly who, on that very day at Beaumont, 
was deprived of his command for bad leader- 
ship, and superseded by De Wimpffen. In the 
rear of this party of fugitives was a cartload 



CH. III. BETWEEN TWO FIRES. 35 

of women and children. One of the women told 
most pitifully how the Prussian shells had that 
morning devastated their homes in the vicinity of 
Beaumont and Raucourt, and how several parts of 
those villages were then in flames. These poor 
creatures, numbed with cold and fright, gladly 
partook of the contents of some of our flasks ; and 
we were all pleased when, after half an hour's 
parley with the peasant sentry, the drawbridge was 
let down and they were admitted into the town. 

I now returned to my quarters in the station, 
where I slept soundly until I was awakened at 
break of day by Dr. Frank, who enjoined us to 
get ready at once, so as to push on to the front. 
This was the morning of the 31st August. At 
early dawn there was a thick fog, which, however, 
soon cleared away, revealing to us the fact that we 
were not far from the Prussian lines, and that they 
had actually during the night got full possession 
of the range of hills commanding the station and 
the whole town of Sedan. At times we could see 
distinctly numbers of Prussian Uhlans appearing 
now and then, from behind woods and plantations, 
on the heights of Marfee opposite us, and again 
disappearing, leaving us fully convinced that there 
were more where those came from. A little later, 
when the fog cleared off, we perceived in the 
opposite direction, at the north-east side of the 
town, numbers of troops moving about. These 
we found to be MacMahon's forces. Now we 



S6 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. hi. 

became conscious of how we really stood. Our 
chief called us together, and with the stern manner 
and firm voice of an old veteran said, '' Gentle- 
men, by a combination of unforeseen circumstances 
over which I had no control, we are now in the 
awkward position of finding ourselves placed 
between the line of fire of two armies. If they 
commence hostilities we are lost. It is therefore 
my intention as promptly as possible to retreat 
behind the French lines." Having said so much, 
he gave the order to move on. This we did 
across some fields, which we traversed with ease ; 
but presently we came upon some heavy potato 
and turnip plots. Here our progress was 
necessarily very slow, heavily-laden as we were, 
with our three waggons ploughing through the 
soft furrows ; and as we were not quite sure of 
the country that lay between us and the army, 
our position was most unenviable. 

Two of our party, Drs. May and Tilghman, 
went ahead upon horseback, one of them carrying 
an ambulance flag. These two galloped along 
rather too impetuously as it appeared, for they 
came unexpectedly upon the French outposts, 
who, not knowing them to be friends, quickly 
fired a volley at them. Having discovered who 
they were they did not repeat this salute. It 
w^as just as our waggon horses had come to a 
standstill, being completely exhausted from 
pulling and floundering in the soft ground, that 



CH. III. WE FLEE INTO THE TOWN. 37 

Drs. May and Tilghman returned at a gallop to 
inform us that the Meuse lay between us and the 
main body of the army, and that there was no 
bridge, or other means of crossing, without going 
round through the town. 

Just at this moment a courier came up in 
hot haste to say that, as the Prussians had just 
been seen in the immediate vicinity, the gate of 
the town would be immediately closed, and that 
the Military Commandant required us at once to 
make good our retreat, and get in the rear of the 
French army. We now saw that there was no 
alternative but to leave our baggage, stores, and 
waggons just where they w^ere, and to fly into the 
town, which we did with all possible expedition, 
as from the position of the enemy we expected 
every minute that an engagement would take 
place. When we got inside the gates, tw^o 
civilians volunteered, for a reward, to recover 
the baggage and waggons, with May and Tilgh- 
man as their leaders. These two gentlemen were 
veteran campaigners of the American Confederate 
Army, as v/ere also all the other Americans of our 
ambulance, save Frank Hayden, who hailed from 
the North. 

These not only brought back all our effects, 
but also a quantity of potatoes which were found 
in the field where the waggons had been left, 
and upon which we largely subsisted during the 
week following. 



38 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. hi. 

We now reported ourselves to the Intendant 
Militaire, who told us that he had the night before 
received an order to have in readiness 1800 beds 
for the use of the wounded. There was not a 
military surgeon in the town, nor any medical 
stores or appliances save our own ; and of civilian 
doctors we never heard, nor were they en Evidence. 

The Intendant Militaire put all the beds which 
he had provided at our disposal, and gave us full 
control over their disposition and management. 

Accordingly we took possession of the Caserne 
D'Asfeld, and made ready for receiving the 
wounded. We also had our stores arranged so 
that everything might be at hand when required. 

It was while thus busily engaged, transporting 
our stores, and putting things in their place 
ready for use, that I saw the Emperor Napoleon 
slowly pacing up and down in front of the Sous- 
Prefecture, cigar in mouth, with his hands behind 
his back and head bent, gazing vacantly at the 
ground. 

All that morning we had heard the distant 
booming of cannon, in the southward direction of 
Carignan and Mouzon. As the day advanced 
the cannonading came nearer, and grew more 
distinct, until it seemed to be in the immediate 
neighbourhood of the town. At nightfall the 
firing ceased, and we could perceive the glare of a 
distant village, in the direction of Douzy, lighting 
up the darkness. 



CH. III. OUR HOSPITAL. 39 

A brief sketch of the defences of Sedan, as 
well as an explanation of the position in which 
our hospital stood with regard to the forti- 
fications, will not be out of place. The river 
Meuse, on the right bank of which Sedan is situ- 
ated, communicates by sluice-gates with two deep 
trenches about thirty feet wide, separated from 
one another by a high embankment. On opening 
these gates, the trenches and a vast expanse of 
meadow land, extending nearly to Bazeilles and 
along the river beyond it, had been flooded, and 
the city was thus defended by a double wet ditch 
for about three-fourths of its circumference. All 
this lay external to the stone-faced ramparts, upon 
which stood heavy siege-guns, ostensibly to pro- 
tect the town. They were, in fact, obsolete 
dummies. Outside these, again, were high earth- 
works, faced by strong palisades of spiked timber. 
At the summit of the north-east corner of the 
fortifications, towering above the plateau of Floing, 
rose the Citadel, — a huge, dark mass of mason- 
work and grassy slopes, which seemed to frown 
over a series of steep clifTs upon the town beneath. 
Above this stood our hospital of the Caserne 
D'Asfeld, called after a French Marshal of Louis 
XIV.'s time. The Prussians afterwards knew it 
as the " Kronwerk D'Asfeld". It was a fortress 
which had a drawbridge and defences of its own. 
From these details we may judge what a strong- 
hold Sedan would prove, were it not for the range 



40 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. hi. 

of hills Opposite, called the Heights of Marfee. 
But these command the town ; and the Prussians 
had been permitted to occupy them. 

Now, as to the Caserne itself Standing 
on the highest point of the fortifications, about loo 
feet above the Meuse, it might have seemed the 
very position for a hospital. It was a two-storied 
bomb-proof building, with a flat roof, 240 feet long, 
and contained nine large wards, fifty-three feet by 
seventeen, and ten feet high, as well as four small 
ones wnth twenty beds in each. There were two 
spacious windows in every ward. The floors 
were concrete. On the fortifications outside were 
rows of magnificent trees, which gave the grounds 
a picturesque appearance. But in front, facing 
the town, there were no trees ; and from this 
point we had an unbroken view of Sedan and the 
valley of the Meuse, with the hills opposite. 
The villages of Donchery, Frenois, and Wadel- 
incourt were all visible. 

Six cannon commanded the outer breastworks, 
behind the buildings, and two sallyports led out 
beneath the fortifications, on to the plains of 
Floing. We heard from the wounded, as well 
as from other sources, that the French were 
retreating on Sedan, and that the Prussians 
held the left bank of the Meuse, and the 
valley and hills about it. The French, on 
their side, occupied the Illy heights to the 
north of the town above the plateau of Floing, 



CH. III. THE FRENCH INFATUATED. 4 1 

the Bols de Garenne, and the east and south- 
east plains, from Daigny and the valley of 
Givonne to Bazellles. Hence, it was evident, 
-even at so early a date, that the French army 
had only the strip of small country to the north 
.and east of Sedan, between the right bank of the 
Meuse and the Ardennes, by which to make good 
their retreat on Mezieres. And of this narrow 
..space, the defile of St. Albert alone was available 
for the passage of large bodies of soldiers. 

The Prussian outposts were already in Ven- 
'dresse and Donchery. Could they succeed in 
moving further north before the French started, 
they might cut off the retreat of the whole 
army. 

The movements of the French in these straits 
had been extremely perplexing to us. They must 
have known their situation, if not on the 29th, 
certainly on the 30th and 31st. Why, then, did 
they not keep to the left bank of the Meuse, and 
.seize the only available strong position visible on 
that side — the Heights of Marfee, which they could 
have held, and the possession of which would 
have covered their retreat along the defile of 
St. Albert ? Instead of doing so, they chose to 
fall back on Sedan ; a trap out of which no sane 
man, military or civilian, could, under the circum- 
stances, expect an army to free itself These 
positions were occupied by the Prussians at the 
earliest possible moment. But even if the French 



42 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. hi, 

could not have come up by the left bank of the 
Meuse, they might, as late as the night of the 
31st, have retreated by Moncelle, the plain of 
Floing, and the right bank of the river. Thus, 
at all events, they would have got clear of the 
enemy's heavy guns, which assailed them from 
the hills in front ; and would have had some 
chance of meeting their foes on more equal terms. 
But they went to their destruction like men in a 
dream. 

Late that evening, several large batches of 
wounded came into the Caserne. These kept us 
employed till after midnight, when we slipped out 
and ascended the fortifications, that we might 
look once more at the still blazing village, the 
name of which we had not then heard. Of 
course it was Douzy. And now we perceived,, 
by the innumerable camp-fires gleaming around 
us on all sides, that we were close to the ill-fated 
army, of which Marshal MacMahon held the 
command. To-morrow it would cease to exist, 
and with it the Napoleonic Empire would come 
to an end. 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER, 187O. — EXPERIENCES AT 
THE CASERNE. — WOUNDED HORSES. — THE FRENCH 
RETREAT BECOMES A STAMPEDE. — SOLDIERS DE- 
SPAIR. 

Full of strange forebodings, I retired to the 
guard-room at the end of the building which 
overlooked the town, where Pere Bayonne, our 
Dominican chaplain, Hewitt, and myself had our 
stretchers. Tired out, I slept as soundly as if 
nothing had happened, or was to happen. But 
about a quarter to five on the following morning, 
— that historic Thursday, the ist of September, — 
Pere Bayonne and I were aroused by the strange 
and terrible sound of roaring cannon. We heard 
the shells whizzing continually, and by-and-by the 
prolonged peals of the mitrailleuse. On looking 
out, we saw a thick mist lying along the valley, 
and clinging about the slopes of the hills in 
front of us. Presently it cleared away ; the 
morning became beautifully fine, and the sun 
shone forth with genial warmth. 

Immediately beneath us lay the town, with its 
double fortifications, and its trenches filled by the 
(43) 



44 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. iv. 

Meuse, which seemed a silver thread winding 
through a charmingly wooded and delightful 
country. The whole range of hills which 
commanded the town was occupied by the 
Prussians ; and we could see their artillery and 
battalions in dark blue, with their spiked helmets 
and their bayonets flashing in the sunlight. 

Neither had we long to wait before 150 guns 
were, each in its turn, belching out fire and 
smoke. For the first couple of hours the heaviest 
part of the fighting w^as kept up from the left 
and further extremity of this range of hills. But 
as the morning wore on, the guns immediately 
opposite us opened fire, although the main body 
of the Prussians had not yet come up the valley 
into view. The plains and hills to the north 
and north-east of the town and immediately 
behind us were covered with French troops, the 
nearest being a regiment of the Line, a Zouave 
regiment, and a force of cuirassiers. It was 
magnificent to see the bright helmets and breast- 
plates of the latter gleaming in the sun, as they 
swept along from time to time, and took up fresh 
positions. I watched them suddenly wheel and 
gallop at a headlong pace for some hundred yards, 
then stop as they were making a second wheel, and 
tear up to the edge of a wood on a piece of high 
ground, where they remained motionless. A 
regiment of the Line then advanced, and opened 
fire across them, down into the valley beneath the 



CH. IV. FRENCH HEROISM. 45 

wood ; while for twenty minutes a hot counter- 
fire was kept up by a force of advancing Prussians, 
the French still moving forward, and leaving 
plenty of work for us in their rear. As the firing 
ceased, the cuirassiers, who had been up till then 
motionless spectators of the scene, suddenly began 
to move, first at a walk, then breaking into a 
trot, and, finally, having cleared the corner of the 
wood, into full gallop. They dashed down the 
valley of Floing and were quickly lost to our view. 
This was the beginning, as I afterwards learned, 
of one of the most brilliant feats of the French 
arms during that day. It has been graphically 
described by Dr. Russell, the war correspondent 
of the Times. Beyond doubt, until noon, when 
all chance of success vanished, the French fought 
bravely. I shall here instance one out of many 
personal feats of valour, which came under our 
notice. 

While I was assisting in dressing a wounded 
soldier, he told me the following story, which was 
subsequently corroborated by one of his officers 
who came to see him. This soldier was St. Aubin, 
of the Third Chasseurs d'Afrique, concerning 
whom I shall have more to say by-and-by. He 
was only twenty-three, and a tall, fair, handsome 
fellow. He had been in action for seven hours, 
and had received a bayonet thrust through the 
cheek. His horse was shot under him during 
the fiight of the French towards Sedan. Still 



46 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. iv. 

undismayed, he provided himself with one of the 
chassepots lying about, and falling in with a 
body of Marines, the best men in the French 
army, he, in company with this gallant band, faced 
the enemy again. Numbers of his companions 
fell ; he himself got a bullet through the right 
elbow. Promptly tearing his pocket handkerchief 
into strips with his teeth, he tied up his wounds, 
and securing his wrist to his belt, seized his sword, 
determined to fight on. Unfortunately, the frag- 
ment of a shell struck him again, shattering the 
right shoulder. In this plight he mounted a stray 
horse, and, as he told me, holding his sword in 
his teeth, put spurs to his steed, and joined his 
companions at Sedan, where he sank out of the 
saddle through sheer exhaustion and loss of 
blood. 

Early in the day vigorous fighting was going 
on outside the town, about Balan and Bazellles, 
and between us and the Belgian frontier. As 
early as ten o'clock, it was evident that the 
Prussians were extending their line of fire on both 
sides, with the ultimate object of hemming in the 
French army, now being slowly forced back upon 
the town. By eleven o'clock, the plains to the 
north and east between us and the Belgian 
frontier were occupied by dense masses of the 
French ; and at noon, the Prussian artillery on 
the hills in front turned their fire over our heads, 
on the French troops behind us. From this 



CH. IV. IN THE HEART OF THE BATTLE. 47 

moment, we found ourselves in the thick of the 
iight. Around us on every side raged a fierce 
and bloody conflict. The Prussian guns in front, 
which had kept up an intermittent fire since 
early morning, now seemed to act in concert, and 
the roaring of cannon and whizzing of shells be- 
came continuous. It was an appalling medley of 
sounds ; and we could scarcely hear one another 
speak. 

During this murderous fire, we received into 
our hospital twenty-eight officers of all grades 
(among them two colonels), and nearly 400 men 
of all arms. Occasionally, one of the shells which 
were passing over us in quick succession would 
fall short, striking, at one time, the roof of our 
Hospital or the stone battlements in front, at 
another the earthworks or a tree within the fort. 
One of these shells burst at the main entrance, 
close to where I was at work, killing two in- 
Jiinniers and wounding a third, — the first two 
were, indeed, reduced to a mass of charred 
flesh, a sight of unspeakable horror. A second 
shell burst close to the window of the ward, 
in which Drs. MacCormac, Nicholl, Tilghman, 
and May were operating, chipping off a frag- 
ment of the corner stone ; a third struck the 
coping wall of the fortification overhanging the 
town, about twenty feet from our mess-room 
window ; and a fragment entered, and made a 
hole in the ceiling. The bomb-proof over our 



48 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. iv. 

heads came in for a shower of French mitrailleuse 
bullets, which so frightened our cook that he 
upset a can of savoury horseflesh soup, which 
he had prepared for us. But, to add to the 
danger, about half-past two a detachment of 
artillery, bringing with them three brass nine- 
pounders, came into our enclosure (for, as I have- 
said, the guns supposed to be guarding our fort 
were absolute dummies), and opened a hot fire on 
the enemy, in the vain attempt to enable Ducrot's 
contingent to join De WimpfTen at Balan. It was 
a brave and determined effort, but as futile as it 
was rash, for it brought the Prussian fire down upon 
us ; and in less than half an hour, the French had 
to abandon their guns, which were soon dismantled,, 
while the trenches about them were filled with dead 
and wounded. At one time. Dr. May and I 
counted on the plain a rank of eighty-five dead, 
horses, exclusive of the maimed. The sufferings 
of these poor brutes, which were as a rule fright- 
fully mutilated, seemed to call for pity almost as 
much as those of the men themselves. For the 
men, if wounded very badly, lay still, and their 
wants were quickly attended to ; but the horses,, 
sometimes disembowelled, their limbs shattered, 
kept wildly struggling and snorting beneath dis- 
mounted gun-carriages and upturned ammunition 
waggons, until either a friendly revolver or death 
from exhaustion put an end to their torment. 

Everywhere on this plain, to the north of the 



CH. IV. SAUVE QUI PEUT. 49 

town, there was now the most hopeless confusion. 
The soldiers, utterly demoralised — more than half 
of them without arms — were hugging the ramparts 
in dense masses, seeking thus to escape the deadly 
fire directed on them by the advancing Prussians. 
It was clear that the fortunes of the day were 
gomg against the French ; and if we ask the 
reason, some reply may be found in the testimony 
of a Colonel, who told us, with sobs and tears, 
that for six hours he had been under fire, and had 
received no orders from his General. A little later 
on, about half- past three, an officer, carrying the 
colours of his regiment, rushed into our Hospital 
in a state of the wildest excitement, crying out 
that the French had lost, and entreating Dr. 
May to hide his fiag in one of our beds, — a 
request with which the latter indignantly refused 
to comply. 

About a quarter to four, although the din of 
battle was still raging, we could see the white flag 
flying, and rumours of a truce were current. The 
space round the Caserne D'Asfeld was at this 
time crowded with troops ; and a knot of them 
were wrangling for water about our well, which, 
being worked only by a windlass and bucket, gave 
but a scanty supply. The events that now followed 
have been described by the French as an attempt 
on the part of Ducrot to get his forces through 
the town, and out by the Ralan gate, there to re- 
inforce General Wimpffen, and sustain his final 
4 



50 WITH AN AMBULANCE. CH. iv. 

attempt to break through the German Hnes. But 
what really happened was this : The French, 
aware that the battle was lost, had become panic- 
stricken, and getting completely out of the control 
of their officers, their retreat on Sedan was, in 
plain truth, the stampede of a thoroughly dis- 
organised and routed army. It was a strange 
sight, and by no means easy to picture. A huge 
and miscellaneous collection of men, horses, and 
materials were jammed into a comparatively 
small space, all in the utmost disorder and confu- 
sion. Soldiers of every branch — cavalry, infantry, 
artillery — flung away their arms, or left them at 
different places, in stacks four or five feet high. 
Heedless of command, they made for the town by 
every available entrance. And I saw French 
officers shedding tears at a spectacle, which no 
one who was not in arms against them could 
witness without grief and shame. 

A Colonel, who had carried his eagles with 
honour through the battles of Worth and Weissen- 
burg, related how he had buried the standard of 
his regiment, together with his own decorations, 
and burned his colours, to save them from falling 
into the hands of the enemy. All these officers 
had but one cry : '' Nous sommes Irakis ! " openly 
declaring that the loss of their country, and the 
dishonour of its arms, were due to the perfidy and 
incompetence of their statesmen and generals. 
That some of these allegations of treason were 



CH. IV. TURCOS DISARMING. 5 1 

well founded is beyond question : the universal 
incompetency we saw with our own eyes. 

I observed one remarkable incident during 
this state of general disorder. A regiment of 
Turcos came into our enclosure with their officers, 
in perfect order, fully armed and accoutred. 
These gaunt-looking fellows, fierce, bronzed, and 
of splendid physique, stood stolid and silent, with 
their cloaks, hoods, and gaiters still beautifully 
white. Watching for some minutes, I noticed a 
movement among them, and they commenced a 
passionate discussion in their own tongue, evi- 
dently on a subject of interest to them all. In 
another minute the conclusion was manifest. 
Approaching the parapet in small parties, and 
clubbing their rifles, they smashed off the stocks 
against the stonework, and flung the pieces into 
the ditch beneath. In like manner they disposed 
of their heavy pistols and side-arms. Then, 
having lighted their cigarettes, they relapsed into 
a state of silent and dreamy inactivity, in which 
not a word was spoken. 

Along the roads leading to the gates of the 
town, more particularly along the one beneath us, 
streamed a dense mass of soldiers belonging to 
various regiments, with numbers of horses ridden 
chiefly by officers, and some waggons, all bearing 
headlong down on the gates. As they passed 
over the narrow bridges, literally in tens of 
thousands, packed close together, some horses 



52 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. iv. 

and a few men were pushed over the low parapet 
into the river, and many of the fugitives were 
trodden under foot. At length, between four and 
five P.M., the firing gradually slackened. For some 
time it was still kept up, but in a desultory manner, 
towards Balan. At half-past five it ceased alto- 
gether ; and the sensation of relief was indescrib- 
able. 

The grounds about the Caserne D'Asfeld had, 
in the meanwhile, become packed with runaway 
soldiers, whose first exploit was forcibly to enter 
our kitchen and store-rooms, and plunder all they 
could lay hands on. Of course, they were driven 
to these acts by the exigencies of the situation. 
The blame for such excesses cannot but attach to 
that centre of all corruption, the French Commis- 
sariat, which broke down that day as it had done at 
every turn during the whole campaign. We had 
some wounded men in the theatre, Place de Turenne, 
down in Sedan ; but the streets and squares were 
so densely crowded that it was with difficulty some 
of our staff could make their way to them. All 
were now burning with anxiety to know whether 
the French would surrender, or hostilities be re- 
sumed on the morrow. A continuance of the , 
struggle, as we felt, would mean that some hundred 
and twenty thousand soldiers, and ourselves along 
with them, were to be buried in the ruins of Sedan. 

Our fears, however, were soon allayed. Before 
nightfall we heard that the Emperor had opened 



CH. IV. THE NIGHT AND THE WOUNDED. 53 

negotiations with the German King, and that the 
capitulation was certain. 

At last darkness set in. The stillness of the 
nitrht was unbroken, save for a musical hummino- 
sound as if from a mighty hive of bees ; — it was 
the murmur of voices resounding from the hundred 
thousand men caged within the beleaguered city. 
As we stood for a moment on the battlements, 
sniffing the cool air, with which was still inter- 
mingled the gruesome odour of the battlefield, 
how impressive a sight met our gaze ! Bazeilles 
was burning ; its flames lit up the sky brilliantly, 
and brought out into clear relief the hills and 
valleys for miles around ; they even threw a red 
glare over Sedan itself; while above the site of 
the burning village there seemed to dance one 
great pillar of fire, from which tongues shot out 
quivering and rocketing into the atmosphere, as 
house after house burst into flames. 

The number of Frenchmen wounded during 
those few hours of which I write, is said to have 
been 12,500. Probably a third of that figure would 
represent the number of Prussian casualties. As 
for our own ambulance, during that day it afforded 
surgical aid to 100 officers and 524 men. The 
number of those killed will never be known ; all 
I can state is, that in places the French were 
mown down before our eyes like grass. There is 
a thicket on a lonely hill side, skirting the Bois de 
Garenne, within rifleshot of the Caserne D'Asfeld, 



54 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. iv. 

where six and thirty men fell close together. 
There they were buried in one common grave ; 
and few besides myself remain to tell the tale. 

Such is the story of Sedan as I beheld it, and 
as faithful a record as I can give from my own 
experience, of that never-to-be-forgotten ist of 
September, 1870. 



CHAPTER V. 

THE BURNING OF BAZEILLES. — WORTHLESS FRENCH 
OFFICERS. — A WALK ABOUT SEDAN. — IN THE 
VALLEY. 

To our labours in the Hospitals I shall presently 
return. On the 31st, Drs. Frank and Blewitt had 
established a branch hospital at Balan, and during 
that day and 1st September, had rendered assist- 
ance, both there and at Bazeilles, to those who 
were wounded in the street-fighting or injured 
by the flames. Dr. Blewitt informed me that at 
one time, the house in which they were treating a 
large number of wounded had its windows and 
doors so riddled with bullets, that, in order to 
escape with their lives, they had to lie down on 
the floor, and remain there until the leaden shower 
was over. The French inhabitants also, he said, 
had fired upon the Bavarians ; they had set their 
bedding and furniture alight, and thrown them 
out on the heads of the Germans, who were 
packed close in the streets ; and after the first 
repulse of the invaders, several wounded Prussians 
had been barbarously butchered, some even 
(horrible to relate) had had their throats cut with 
(55) 



56 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. v. 

razors. This, It was reported, had been the 
work of French women. On the other hand, 
several of the native soldiers had been found 
propped up against the walls in a sitting posture, 
with pipes and flowers in their mouths. Upon 
retaking the village, when the Germans discovered 
what had been done, they retaliated by shooting 
down and bayoneting all before them, nor In 
some Instances did the women and children 
escape this cruel fate. So exasperated, Indeed, 
were the Germans by the events of those two 
dreadful hours on the ist, that not a life did they 
spare, nor a house did they leave intact, in that 
miserable town. 

Such, in brief, was the history of Bazellles. 
It is not a subject which one can dwell upon. 
When, within a day or two later, I had occasion 
to pass through it, and saw the still burning ruins 
which bore witness to the awful deeds done on 
both sides, my heart sank. All that fire and 
sword could wreak upon any town and its inhabit- 
ants was visible here ; and It Is not too much 
to affirm that, so long as the name of Bazellles Is 
remembered, a stain will rest on the memory of 
French and Germans, both of whom contributed 
to its ruin. 

On the 5th September Dr. Frank took posses- 
sion of the Chateau Mouville, which belonged to 
the Count de Flenne. It is situated between 
Balan and Bazellles, and was quickly filled with 



CH. V. MISERY OF THE SOLDIERS. 57 

wounded from both places. But for some time 
our ambulance was unable to get its waggons 
through the streets, so impeded were they with 
the charred remains of the dead and dying. 

I have now described what I can vouch for, 
on the testimony of some of my companions, as 
having occurred at these two places ; and I will 
leave my own account of what I saw myself in 
Bazeilles until a later occasion. 

To go back to Sedan. As night drew near, 
the refugees outside the Caserne lighted their 
fires, and put up their tents. Those who had no 
tents rolled themselves in their cloaks, and lay 
down just where they happened to be. All were 
overcome by fatigue, long marches, and w^ant of 
food and sleep ; they seemed only too glad to 
rest anywhere, and to enjoy a respite from the 
sufferings and hardships which during so many 
days had weighed upon them. 

The true story of these unhappy soldiers will 
never become known in detail ; and if it did, the 
public would hardly believe it. Many of them 
started, as I heard from their own lips, with only 
two-thirds of the kit they were booked as having 
received. In some instances their second pair of 
boots were wanting ; or, if not, the pair supplied 
had thick brown paper soles covered with leather, 
and were often a misfit. The men, as we read 
with perfect accuracy in La Debacle, were 
marched and countermarched to no purpose ; they 



58 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. v. 

received contradictory orders ; and I learned from 
their statements, that neither general officers nor 
subalterns knew whither they were going ; and 
that one corps w^as constantly getting foul of the 
other, simply from not being acquainted with the 
map of the district in which they found themselves. 
More than one declared to me that their officers 
were officiers de salon; they were canaille, said 
the men, who when under fire were the first to 
seek shelter, and from their position of security to 
cry '' En avant, mes braves / " In fact, the common 
soldiers felt and expressed the heartiest contempt 
for them. Of this I had abundant evidence. It 
was enough to see how the rank and file came 
into the cafes and sat down beside the officers of 
their own regiment, as I have seen them do, 
taking hardly any notice of them, or deigning 
them only the lamest of salutes. On the other 
hand, when officers came into a cafe (which they 
did upon every possible occasion), the men would 
pretend not to see them. I have observed, not 
once, but scores of times, captains of the Line, 
wearing decorations, seated in taverns drinking 
beer and absinthe with the common soldiers. 
They were as despicable in their familiarities as 
in their want of courage ; and who can be surprised 
if their men did not respect them, or wonder that 
such leaders had no control over the privates 
when in action ? 

As I mentioned before, we treated a number 



CH. V. "CHAOS UMPIRE SITS." 59 

of officers of high grade who were wounded on 
the I St. They, in their turn, did not hesitate to 
show how small was the confidence which they 
reposed in the grades above them, by insisting 
that they had been sold and betrayed. They had 
received no orders ; and the generals of division 
had failed to make their different marches in the 
appointed time, and to bring up their commissariat, 
because their movements were hampered by the 
Emperor and his staff, with their infinite baggage 
and useless attendants. Statements such as these, 
together with what I witnessed myself, convinced 
me in a very short time that it was not the soldiers 
of France who were wanting in courage and en- 
durance, but their officers who were thoroughly 
incompetent, and their commissariat and whole 
military organisation, which was rotten to the 
core. 

But to my Hospital. As I walked around the 
building the sight was picturesque and very 
human, — the camjp fires showing all the ground 
strewn beneath the great trees with jaded sleepers. 
Entering by one of the doors, I stumbled against 
something, which turned out to be a slumbering 
Turco. The fellow yelled out words quite unin- 
telligible to me, and rolled over, without giving 
himself any more trouble, out of my way. The 
medical staff now retired, and attacked what bread, 
meat, and soup had been saved from the depre- 
dators of our larder that morning ; after which we 



6o WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. v, 

resumed work once more. We were kept at it 
the whole of that night, the following day, and 
some hours of the night after that, without inter- 
mission. During the whole of the next day we 
were engaged in receiving and conveying wounded 
men from the cottages and farmsteads scattered 
over the plains at Illy and Floing, all of which 
were crammed with disabled combatants. My 
duty in the Caserne was to dress the lightly 
wounded, and assist at the operation table until 
the afternoon, when I was desired by our kind 
and considerate chief to take four hours off duty,, 
and get some sleep. 

Instead, however, of taking this rest, which no 
doubt one required, I sallied forth with F. Hay- 
den oil an expedition into the town, to the Croix 
d'Or, where I had left something on the 31st, 
which I thought I might recover. We found it 
hard to get out of our own enclosure ; and even on 
the steep path leading to the town, men were 
lying asleep, while others roamed about in search 
of food. But when we got into Sedan, the streets 
were thronged with soldiers. At several corners 
we stopped to see men who were hacking and 
hewing the carcases of horses, which they had 
just killed. Hungry crowds surrounded them, 
many of whom were munching the lumps of raw 
meat, which they had secured, without waiting to 
have it cooked ; and in the Place de Turenne lay 
the bloody skeletons of two horses, from which 



<:h. v. a shower OF PISTOLS. 6l 

every particle of flesh had been cut away. Here, 
as our cook, " nigger Charhe," assured me, was the 
source of my morning's meal, which I had washed 
down with brandy, and thoroughly relished. I 
may be pardoned for turning quickly from the 
revolting scene. 

Finding that it was impossible to proceed, we 
retraced our steps to the Caserne, and, making 
our exit this time through one of the sallyports, 
went over the scene, at least in part, of yesterday's 
batde. 

It was a beautiful autumn evening, and the 
sun shone bright. Butterflies flitted to and fro, 
and myriads of insects danced in the light as if 
for a wager. Just as we were walking along the 
entrenchments outside, we very nearly met with 
an inglorious end from a shower, not of bullets, 
but of pistols, which came over the battle- 
ments, and continued falling at intervals. On 
looking up, I perceived, standing on a projecting 
angle, a stalwart Turco, who made signs that I 
should keep in close to the parapet, which I 
did. This friendly fellow persuaded his comrades 
to desist for a little, and thus enabled us to 
retreat. 

On getting clear of the ramparts, we found 
ourselves north of the town, with the Bois 
de Garenne crowning the heights in front, and 
the valley of Floing sloping away to our left. 
But the plateau which yesterday swarmed with 



02 AVITH AX AMBULANCE. ch. v, 

a surging mass of soldiers in conflict with the 
enemy, and upon which we had seen the Cuiras- 
siers and Chasseurs d'Afrique, at the sound of 
the trumpet, tear headlong in their mad career 
to death. — was now hushed, and presented a held 
of such horrors as are not to be described. 

The burying parties had been hard at work 
for hours, but still the dead lay scattered about 
on every side : — here singly, there in twos and 
threes, — and again, in groups huddled together, 
which had been mown down where they stood, 
by the same missile. Their features in some 
instances were contorted and dreadful to be- 
hold. — some with portions of their skulls and 
faces blown away, whilst what was left of their 
features remained unchanged ; others with their 
chests torn open and bowels protruding ; others, 
ao-ain. mangled and dismembered. The larger 
number lay either on their backs or faces,, without 
any apparent indication of the nature of their 
death-wound. And some there were who had 
received the hrst aid of surgical treatment, and 
died in the positions in which they had been 
placed. 

Lower down the valley the corpses in red and 
blue, and the ranks of dead horses, the broken 
spears and sabres, and the bent scabbards, spoke 
silently but forcibly of the fury of that historic en- 
counter. When one looked along the plain for 
about half a mile on each side, one saw that now 



CH. V. THE TROPHIES OF VICTORY. 63 

deserted batdefield strewn as far as the eye could 
reach with guns, and ammunition, and upturned 
waggons. There were carriages, and dead horses 
by the side of them ; firearms of every kind, in 
places stacked several feet high, and knapsacks in- 
numerable ; caps, helmets, belts, plumes, shakos, 
spurs, and boots, and every description imaginable 
of military accoutrements. We remarked, besides, 
all manner of articles — sponges, brushes, letters, 
pocket-books, soldiers' regimental books, band- 
music, tin boxes various in size, and showing the 
most diverse contents, others empty and their 
former contents scattered about ; as also nets for 
hay, saddles, saddle-trappings, whips, bridles, 
bits, drums, portions of band instruments, and, in 
fact, as many descriptions of objects great and 
small as would furnish an immense bazaar. 

In one place I found a chassepot inverted 
together with a bayonet, set at the head of a 
French soldier's grave, and a cavalry sword 
which lay unsheathed beside its owner, who, 
still unburied, gazed vacantly in front of him 
with a glassy stare, whilst the flies swarmed 
about his half-opened mouth. The only indica- 
tion of how he met his death was a small patch 
of blood-stained earth beside him — not red, but 
tarry-black. Near at hand, also, lay, covered 
with blood, a bit and bridle, without anything to 
betoken how it came there. 

The dismal monotony of the scene was re- 



64 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. v. 

lieved only by those little mounds of fresh earth 
scattered here and there, which marked where 
the bodies of the slain, varying from one to ten 
in each place of sepulture, had been consigned. 
Burials were still going on before our eyes. 

Over many of the graves were set up rustic 
crosses, made with two pieces of wood tied 
together, or more frequently devices in arms. 

Silent as the prospect lay in front of us, its 
mournful stillness was occasionally broken by the 
neighing and scampering of bands of horses, still 
uncaptured, which were wandering in a fruitless 
search for food and water. As they looked 
wildly round with their nostrils distended, — some 
with just sufficient trappings left to indicate the 
military status of their former masters, — one could 
almost think that, still unconquered, they sought 
their comrades and the fray. 

In my ramble I passed through several 
gardens and orchards skirting the Bois de 
Garenne. It was pitiful to see their condition. 
The trees were utterly ruined, and their branches 
all broken ; the flower beds were ploughed up 
by the bursting of shells, and the houses had 
become mere wrecks. Through some of them 
these missiles had made a clean breach. Further 
on to the right, there had been a pretty little 
cemetery, planted with yew trees, evergreens, and 
flowers, which had many small monuments in 
marble and cut stone ; but these, for the most part, 



CH. V. TWO CEMETERIES. 65 

were broken or disfigured, and the iron railings and 
the shrubs around them had been torn down. 

As I walked through, I paused for a moment 
to look upon the two graveyards, — the one with 
a history of centuries, judging from its many 
ancient tombs, — the other of yesterday's making 
— its only monuments the little mounds of fresh 
earth, over which, a few months hence, the green 
corn of spring would be waving, to obliterate 
the record of to-day's ghastly scene. 

Hastening from this melancholy spot, I passed 
several burying parties. The ceremonies which 
they used were rude and scant enough ; for all 
they did was to heave the body into the newly- 
made grave, and heap the earth over it in silence. 

Next we ascended the tree-crested height 
above the plateau of Floing, where we had seen 
the cavalry massed on the morning before. We 
first entered the wood. It was intersected by 
walks which led to an observatory and a Chateau 
in the centre. Here, as everywhere else, disorder 
reigned. One might easily have conceived that 
an army had been annihilated in the act of 
preparing their toilet : for all things belonging to 
a soldier, from his full-dress uniform to his linen 
and boots, were scattered about in all directions. 
Rifles and arms of all sorts were cast away in 
hundreds. The brushwood in many parts was 
very thick ; but even in the midst of almost 
impenetrable scrub we found arms and accoutre- 
5 



66 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. v. 

ments In abundance. More than once we came 
upon the corpses of French soldiers, who lay as 
if asleep. They had probably dragged themselves 
from the scene of carnage to this lonely spot, and 
there expired, unmolested. 

At one place in particular the underwood was 
so thick, that I had to crouch down in order to get 
through it. My attention was drawn thither by 
the signs of a path having been forced in that 
direction. A little further in, I found an open 
space of a few yards square, which was now oc- 
cupied by a grave. It had no device upon it, 
except a cross scratched in the red clay. Lying 
beside it, I found a piece of shell, a religious 
picture, a prayer-book, and fragments of a uniform, 
which I still have by me. I fancy some kind 
comrade had paid his friend a last tribute, by 
giving him, as it were, a special burial in a place 
to himself. 

In order to reach the building in the centre of 
the wood, I had to pass through a little garden, 
whose only flowers seemed to be rows of dahlias, 
of every colour and description. Among these 
the shells had made havoc. In one bed, I re- 
marked a deep hole where a shell had fallen, and 
some of the plants had been lifted several feet 
away. In other places, furrows of some yards in 
length were made by shot and shell, as if a plough 
had worked intermittently here and there. Some 
were deep, others just skimmed the surface and 



CH. V. THE BOIS DE GARENNE. 67 

ran a zigzag course, as if a gigantic animal had 
been turning up the ground with his muzzle. The 
building, into which I made my way, seemed to 
be an observatory or pavilion, belonging to the 
Chateau, which stood some distance behind. Its 
doors and wood-work were riddled with bullets, 
and the roof was blown away. There, curiously 
enough, a large quantity of music was strewn 
about. Under cover of this wood, the Bois de 
Garenne, we had seen the French massing their 
troops ; and they had evidently been lying here 
in ambush when the Prussians detected and 
shelled them, before the final rout, during which 
they abandoned their arms and ammunition. 
Down the slope of the hill, and in the bottom of 
the valley facing the Meuse, dead men and horses, 
with groups of hastily-dug graves, — many of them 
German, — and broken spears, and numbers of 
unsheathed cavalry swords, told the same tale 
of a death struggle in which hundreds must have 
perished. 

Further along the valley, beside a lonely 
thicket, was a large mound with a stake driven 
into it, and an inscription in German characters^ 
made with some material which looked like black- 
ing, "• Here lie thirty-six men of the 5th corps ". 
Who shall reckon the number of French dead in 
the many graves adjacent.-^ 

As my time was up, I now hastened back to- 
my post, feeling like one who had awakened 



68 WITH AN AMBULANCE. cH. v. 

from a terrible nightmare. Yet I was much in- 
vigorated by this expedition, so mournful in its 
circumstances, and went to work with renewed 
energy. 

On the evening of the 3rd, word was brought 
us that some of the wounded lay in a bad way in 
a cottage outside Balan. Dr. MacCormac, ac- 
companied by Dr. Hewitt and myself, at once 
proceeded through the town and along the high 
road, which we followed only for a short distance. 
Then we struck out to the left until we arrived at 
a small wood, where certain of the French troops 
were still encamped, but as prisoners. 

The night was fine, and would have been pitch 
dark had not the camp fires shone around 
numerous and bright. When we came to the 
house in question, Dr. MacCormac performed 
several amputations, at which Hewitt and I as- 
sisted. In a couple of hours we started again for 
home, but being both hungry and thirsty, turned 
aside into a little cottage, where we told the poor 
woman in occupation that we had been attending 
the wounded, and had had nothing to eat all day. 
We were willing to pay for anything she could 
give us. At first she looked at us sternly ; but 
when we told her on which side we had been 
engaged, she melted, and received us with a 
welcome, which, if not effusive, was, under the 
circumstances, cordial. 

Out of her larder she offered us bread, and a 



CH. V. A RURAL SUPPER. 69 

quantity of what she informed us was beef We 
could not be particular ; and it was not with- 
out enjoyment that we made our doubtful, but 
much needed supper on her viands. No further 
incident delayed our return to the Caserne 
D'Asfeld. 



CHAPTER VI . 

WORK IN THE HOSPITAL. — THE ISLE OF IGES. — MY 
ARAB HORSE. — PRISONERS SENT INTO GERMANY. 

I DO not intend entering here into full details of 
our work during this eventful period. But, to 
give unprofessional readers some idea of its 
nature and extent, I may state, that after the 
battles of August 31st, and ist September, 
we had 72 amputations of upper and lower 
extremities, the great majority of which opera- 
tions were performed by Dr. MacCormac. 
Besides these, there were scores of equal magni- 
tude — ligatures of arteries of the neck, arm, and 
thigh, — and a host of operations, which, in com- 
parison, are usually termed minor, most of which, 
especially when very serious, were accomplished 
by the same skilful hand. After the hurry and 
rush of the first few days, we adopted a general 
routine of work, and divided the number of 
wounded equally among the staff of surgeons and 
assistants. We were eighteen, all told. Dr. 
Marion Sims was our head. Dr. MacCormac 
our chief operator, Dr. Webb our coinptable, 
and Mr. Harry Sims our storekeeper. As I 
stated before, Drs. Frank and Blewitt managed 

(;o) 



CH. VI. THE day's routine. 7 1 

a branch hospital in the Chateau Mouvllle, where 
they rendered to the victims of fire, sword, shot, 
and shell, of bullet and bayonet, the most signal 
assistance at the Imminent peril of their lives. 

Thus for our three hundred and eighty wounded 
at the Caserne D'Asfeld we had but twelve men, 
six being surgeons, and six assistants and sous- 
aides ; so that the number of wounded which fell 
to the share of each surgeon and his assistant was 
sixty-three. Almost every case occupying a bed 
in the hospital was of a serious nature, such as 
to require much time and care in dressing it 
daily. But, besides, we had to dress the lightly 
wounded who came to our hospital for inspection, 
and who were quartered in the town wherever 
they could find room. The work was simply 
enormous. We rose at six and breakfasted at 
half-past seven upon horseflesh soup, or coffee 
and condensed milk (Mallow brand) with musty 
bread, for our special supply of provisions was 
exhausted, and neither bread nor beef could be 
obtained at any price. The duties to which we 
then applied ourselves are easily imaginable ; they 
included the setting of fractures, extracting of 
bullets, ligaturing arteries, resecting bones and 
joints, and assisting at the operation table. This 
last was frequently my province. I was under 
Dr. May, an experienced American surgeon, who, 
as I have mentioned earlier, had served in the 
Confederate Army. No one could be more con- 



72 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. vi. 

siderate. We worked most agreeably together, 
and soon were the best of friends. 

During the press of the first few days, we 
juniors had lots of bullets to extract and plenty of 
minor surgery ; for although we were not sup- 
posed to perform any operation, yet under the 
strain of necessity wx could not but often neglect 
this otherwise wholesome arrangement. Every 
day numberless operations were gone through, at 
which we assisted in turn ; and thus had what we 
sometimes thought more than enough of practical 
surgery. I spare the reader details ; yet only 
perhaps by such ghastly touches as are here 
omitted, can the nature and ravages of war be 
truly described. 

At one o'clock the meal which we took resem- 
bled our breakfast, with the addition of a little 
brandy ; then we fell to work again, sometimes not 
giving over until six, when we had supper, which 
was a repetition of our other meals, — coffee or 
horseflesh soup, and sometimes horseflesh with 
black bread and brandy. Then each took his turn 
of night duty. It was very important to keep strict 
watch on the infirmarians, all soldiers under the 
direction of a sergeant who remained in the guard- 
room when on duty. We still owed allegiance to 
the French, and were nominally under the In- 
tendant Militaire, M. Bilotte. This gentleman 
paid us a daily visit, and laid under requisition 
all the provisions he could get in the neighbour- 



CH. VI. SLEEPY WATCHERS. 73 

hood, which was not much, considering that the 
presence of 200,000 men had involved the con- 
sumption of every particle of food in the town 
and the surrounding villages. 

Being junior member of the Ambulance Staff, 
I came first on night duty and took my position 
on a stretcher in the guard-room, where it was all 
I could do to keep myself awake. My eyes 
would close in spite of resolution, and I sometimes 
awoke just in time to escape a reprimand when 
Dr. Marion Sims came round at midnight to make 
his inspection. As a veteran in the American 
War he kept the strictest discipline, and occasion- 
ally made our blood run cold by a description of 
the penalties inflicted during that lively time for 
the smallest dereliction of duty. However, ex- 
cept that a dozen or so of poor sufferers required 
morphia to tranquillise them, nothing occurred 
until the small hours of the morning, when it 
struck me that some of the infirmiers might be, 
like myself, inclined to doze. Accordingly, I went 
round and looked them up. 

All were stirring, except the infirmarians of 
wards 2 and 5, who were stretched out, one on a 
bench, another on the ground, fast asleep. I 
kicked them up to attention, and left them cer- 
tainly more frightened than hurt. On my report- 
ing the matter, as I was bound, next morning, the 
sleepy delinquents were put in the cells for twenty- 
four hours. 



74 WITH AN AMBULANCE. cH. vi. 

Later on, one of them had twice as much 
punishment for the same offence. Poor fellows, 
I could not really blame them. 

A source of disturbance during the night was 
the droves of loose horses, principally Arabs, that 
kept neighing and pawing the pavement outside 
the building, in their endeavour to reach the water 
which was stored in buckets near the open win- 
dows. Every night, as their thirst increased, they 
became more frantic ; and during the daytime 
they came in dozens, drawn by the scent of water, 
all the while kicking each other furiously. Some 
had bridles, some mere fragments of their trap- 
pings, and the rest had got quit of all their furni- 
ture. It was novel to see these chargers careering 
about in demi-toilette. In a few days, however, 
all the wounded animals, now become useless, 
were shot ; the others were brought together — 
chiefly by the sound of the trumpet, to which they 
quickly answered — and were picketed in the valley 
beyond the Meuse and above Donchery. 

One morning Hayden and I made an expedi- 
tion, and secured two of them. Mine was a fine 
chestnut Arab, which I kept tied to a tree in our 
enclosure, while one of my infirTuiers contrived to 
get fodder for him outside the ramparts, in addi- 
tion to what I could procure myself from the 
ambulance stores. Mounted on our captures, 
Hayden and I used occasionally to explore the 
country during our hours off duty. Afterwards, 



CH. VI. THE ISLE OF CAPTIVES. 75 

when leaving Sedan, we turned them out again 
upon the plains, where, doubtless, they enjoyed a 
short-lived freedom. Some of the unsound horses, 
which the Prussians did not require, they sold for 
a trifle to the inhabitants. I saw a remarkably 
useful pair of horses, apparently sound and in 
^ood condition, which were sold by auction in 
the Place de Turenne for twelve francs, that is to 
say, ten shillings the pair. But we must bear in 
mind that, with a little vigilance, and by evading 
the Prussian pickets, horses might then be had 
on the plains for the trouble of catching them. 
What had become, meanwhile, of the defeated 
and entrapped army of prisoners ? After much 
trouble, their officers had got together all that 
remained of the regiments, and had sent in a 
return of their strength to the Prussians. For 
three days our enclosure was not clear of them. 
One afternoon, when the prisoners had been shut 
up into their Island " Park," the Isle d'Iges, 
Hayden and I paid them a visit. It was a 
melancholy sight. That imposing army, which 
included the best soldiers of France, had been 
marched ignominiously, though 85,000 strong, 
out of Sedan, and penned like sheep in this 
island, formed by a bend in the Meuse. There 
they were kept in view by Prussian sen- 
tinels and mounted pickets. We passed the 
guard without difficulty, for there was no prohibi- 
tion against Red Cross medical men entering the 



76 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. vi. 

camp. In addition to the French rank and file, 
those officers who refused to take the parole were 
confined upon the island. We saw them to be 
in a miserable plight, the mud up to their ankles, 
and their clothing scanty and torn. Many had 
lost everything and were wholly without kits. 
The rain, which had succeeded to that brilliant 
sunshine of the ist, had now been coming down 
in torrents for twelve hours, and was drenching 
them to the skin ; for their tent-accommodation 
was altogether insufficient, and failed to shelter 
them. Men and officers alike looked miserable. 

This open-air prison, I have said, was formed 
partly by a bend of the Meuse, and partly by a 
broad, deep, and impassable canal. Within such 
narrow limits we observed the captives, who were 
walking up and down in batches, trying to get a 
little warmth. Some endeavoured to light a fire 
— no easy task with wet sticks — others were 
making coffee, or busied themselves in cutting 
timber to throw on their smoking branches. 
Their food was a scanty supply of bread and 
coffee, served out every two days ; and for this 
there was quite a scramble, which ended in many 
failing to secure more than enough for a single 
meal. Thus they were condemned to starve until 
the next supply was served out. We may well 
ask how such a multitude could exist during those 
weary days, at the mercy of the weather, and in 
a sea of filth. But many died, and the sufferings 



CH. VI. CHANGING HORSES. "JJ 

of the rest were deplorable. These poor fellows 
told us that hundreds of them were victims of 
dysentery, and begged us to give them such 
opiates or astringents as we might have about us. 
Unfortunately, we could do but little under the 
circumstances. 

Whilst I was speaking with a knot of soldiers, 
my friend fell Into conversation with a captain 

of the line, M. le Marquis de , of the 4th 

Chasseurs d'Afrlque. He, too, was suffering 
from the effects of wet and exposure. Hayden, 
with that generosity for which he was remarkable, 
promised to come the next day, and to bring all 
the medicine required. In return, the captain 
pressed upon him a fine grey Arab, with bridle 
and saddle, which Hayden accepted, but could 
not take away then, for the guard would not have 
passed him out. However, when he came the 
day after, with a plentiful supply of medicaments 
and brandy, he rode an old grey garron which 
he had picked up somewhere, and on his departure 
went off with the captain's beautiful mount ; — a 
change of steeds that the Prussian did not trouble 
to remark. 

Every day we saw from our quarters regiment 
after regiment bundled off (there Is no other word 
for It) Into Germany. As we watched the whole 
French army slouching away to the sound of 
Prussian music, I confess that some of us had 
strong language on our lips and still stronger 



7^ WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. vi. 

feelings In our hearts at the shameful sight. We 
anathematised the enemy, who now seemed to be 
pursuing their advantage so unrelentingly. 

Yet, candour compels me to add, that when I 
looked at the Prussian sentinels guarding our 
gates and pacing our ramparts, I could not help 
admiring their stern, yet frank and honest counten- 
ances, and their stalwart physique. A notable 
contrast, indeed, they presented to the stunted, 
nervous-looking, and worn-out French soldiers, 
who, however, it is only fair to add, were suffer- 
ing from the effects of long exposure and priva- 
tion, and whom we had seen at their worst. Still, 
there was a difference in the men themselves 
which no one with eyes in his head could fail 
to observe. What was the explanation of it ? 
He that can reply to this question as the truth 
demands, and he alone, will explain why the 
French campaigns of 1870 and 1871 were such 
a dismal series of misfortunes. The break-down 
of the Commissariat, the peculation in high quarters, 
the confused plans, and the military disorder must 
be ascribed to causes which were long in action 
before the French entered on their struggle with 
the Fatherland. I am convinced that those 
causes were moral and intellectual ; and that they 
still exist. The future of France will depend on 
how the nation deals with them. 



CHAPTER VII. 

more wounded. — sights after the battle. — a 
country ramble. — heavy hospital tasks. — 
l'eau de zouave. 

Every day Sedan became more and more crowded 
with the soldiers who were hurt ; and on the 1 2th 
we found ourselves so much pressed for room 
that we had to put up thirty-six auxiliary tents, 
which, for this humane purpose, we had stolen 
from the French. 

The first contingent arrived from the neigh- 
bourhood of Bazeilles. When they came in we 
saw that the poor fellows were in a bad way, 
many still groaning from the pain of their wounds, 
which had been much increased by their being 
jolted about in waggons, with only a scanty supply 
of straw beneath them. Some had fractured 
limbs ; others had undergone severe surgical 
treatment, such as amputations ; and these latter 
suffered inexpressible torture. 

All were craving for food and water, neither of 

which had been given to them during many hours. 

Some, altogether exhausted, died on the night of 

their arrival. One detachment of the sufferers 

(79) 



80 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. vii. 

had been allotted to Dr. May and myself ; and I 
heard from a soldier that he, and a number of his 
companions, several of whom had lost their legs, 
were permitted to remain on their backs upon 
a little straw for whole days, in a deserted farm- 
house outside Givonne. Their dressings had 
neither been removed nor changed ; they had 
had only water to drink, and a small quantity of 
musty black bread to eat. 

Another suffered from a terrible bed-sore, 
which arose in the same way. 

But what was our surprise, when, on the 
following day, the Germans sent us up from the 
town 130 French wounded, to make room for 
their own in Sedan ! They had them conveyed 
on stretchers ; and, as it happened to be a pour- 
ing wet day, the unhappy men arrived in their 
new quarters drenched to the skin and shivering 
with cold, for many of them had nothing but a 
light shoddy American blanket to cover them or 
their tarpaulin. 

These new comers, the victims of neglect, 
exposure, and overcrowding, became soon the 
victims also of fever, secondary hemorrhage, 
dysentery, pyaemia, and hospital gangrene. It 
cannot be surprising that they died every day by 
the dozen. One morning, in particular, I call to 
mind that there had been fourteen deaths during 
the night. 

Whether it was that the Germans had more 



CH. VII. THE PEASANTS AND THE WOUNDED. 8 1 

wounded of their own than they could conveniently 
attend to, — which I believe was the case, — and 
were therefore unable to look after the French 
wounded, or that they were unwilling to do so, I 
cannot tell, but I know, from personal observation, 
that large numbers of French soldiers died from 
the neglect which they had undergone previous 
to entering our hospitals. 

I am aware that the Germans have been blamed, 
on more than one occasion, for the fearfully 
neglected state of the French wounded in the 
districts occupied by them. But I think the true 
explanation may be found, first and foremost, in the 
great desire which the peasants had to convert their 
houses into ambulances, outside of which they could 
hang the Red Cross flag. Thereby, they exempted 
themselves from having the invaders billeted on 
them. But also, it was owing to the reluctance 
which these same peasants felt at parting with their 
wounded, which would have put an end to their 
own immunity. Furthermore, we must take into 
our account the undoubted fact that the Prussians 
were themselves anxious to leave them with the 
inhabitants, and so get quit of the trouble which 
it involved to transport and treat them surgically. 
Besides this, so great was the dread which the 
French wounded experienced, of being handled 
by German doctors and taken to German hos- 
pitals, that, in many instances, they persuaded 
their own people to conceal their presence as long 



82 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. vii. 

as possible. And, all through, we cannot but 
remember the appalling disorganisation and in- 
competence of the French voluntary ambulances, 
which were never to be found when wanted, 
and which w^hen they did appear, brought with 
them little or nothing that was necessary to make 
a battlefield ambulance useful. They possessed 
no stores ; they had few willing hands or cool 
heads, and discipline was unknown to them. 

I think it but right to add, that once the French 
were transmitted to a German hospital, they in- 
variably (as I can testify from experience) met 
with the greatest kindness at the hands of the 
military surgeons, and had all that science and 
good order could do for them. 

During all this time we were virtually prisoners 
in the hands of the Prussians, and they kept a 
regular guard upon our quarters, while numerous 
sentries paced up and down the ramparts beside 
us, as we went to and fro. Nevertheless, far 
from interfering in any way they gave us help in 
every possible manner, and showed us the most 
marked deference. But the sentries who, after 
nightfall, were placed every fifty yards in the 
streets, were, at first, constantly challenging us, 
until they came to recognise our uniform, and 
knew who we were. 

An incident, which I ought not to pass over, 
occurred one evening as Hayden and I rode out for 
an airing. We were going along the road which 



CH. VII. AT BELLEVUE. 83 

led through the Prussian artillery camp outside 
Donchery, and we met a carriage or landau, ac- 
companied by a strong guard of Uhlans, in which 
was a French officer, evidently wounded, for he 
lay on his back, propped up on pillows. Another 
officer of rank sat beside him. We were in- 
formed that the wounded prisoner was Marshal 
MacMahon, and that he was on his way to Ger- 
many through Belgium ; but I have found since 
that this could not have been the case, for Mar- 
shal MacMahon was taken away early on the day 
of Sedan itself. Next we trotted on to the cot- 
tage at Frenois, where, a few days previously, the 
Emperor had met Count Bismarck. We then 
rode to the Chateau Bellevue in which Napoleon 
had had his interview with the King of Prussia 
and the capitulation was signed. Here I was 
shown, and sat upon, the chair in which the fallen 
Emperor had been seated. The pen and ink 
were shoMm us, also, with which, as it was alleged, 
the articles had been written. But I felt by no 
means sure of this and told my companion so. It 
was amusing to see his indignation, and the vehe- 
ment way in which he put down my scepticism, as 
detracting from the interest of our pilgrimage. 

Our next move was to inspect some of the 
enemy's positions on the heights of Marfee. 
Here we could trace no debris of any kind, — a 
sufficiently striking contrast to what we had 
observed on the other side, where one might 



54 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. vii. 

conceive that myriads of the French had come 
together for a death struggle. Over many of the 
Prussian graves were erected small improvised 
crosses, with the numbers of the dead marked in 
black paint. Of these graves not a few were 
afterwards opened, and the bodies buried deeper 
down ; for they had been lying so close to the sur- 
face that the odour became most offensive. The 
Prussians wisely got their dead out of sight 
quickly, and buried them hastily, without caring 
how imperfectly the work was executed at the 
time. This they did lest the sight of the dead 
might have a demoralising effect upon the living. 
As we took a zigzag course towards home, we 
passed close by the railway station, and perceived 
that it was full of wounded men. The Salle 
d'Attente and all the offices and rolling-stock had 
been converted into ambulances. In many of 
the carriages the partitions had been removed, so 
that they now presented the appearance of a 
hospital upon wheels. 

The sight was interesting to me, for I had 
been one of the last w^ho had travelled in those 
carriages and alighted on that platform. As we 
passed on we skirted the French camp, and 
scanned the remaining occupiers — now reduced 
to a handful — of this plague-spot. And before 
returning, we inspected the pontoon bridge which 
the Prussians had thrown across the Meuse upon 
the evening of the 31st. I had never seen a 



CH. VII. THE ASPECT OF SEDAN. 85 

bridge of the kind, and was naturally struck with 
this wonderful result of an hour's labour. By- 
and-by, fortune gave me an opportunity of seeing 
a still more marvellous bridge of boats, constructed 
and destroyed on the Loire at Orleans. 

Next day, when I had finished my work, 
which consisted, as usual, of dressing wounds of 
every conceivable description, I was despatched 
by Dr. Sims to Dr. Frank at Bazeilles, in order 
to ascertain what additional surgical material was 
required to carry on his hospital at that place. 
Passing through the town, I noticed that the streets 
of Sedan were no longer overflowing with French 
soldiers. They were filled with Prussians, wear- 
ing that grave or stolid expression which marked 
them out so clearly from their adversaries. All 
the shutters were up, the doors closed, and not 
an inhabitant to be seen. One could imagine 
that the town had been completely deserted before 
the hostile troops had entered. 

Such, however, was by no means the case. 
The inhabitants had shut themselves up as a 
silent protest, and that their eyes might be re- 
lieved from the spectacle of the invader rejoicing 
over his victory. For, true it is that with a 
Frenchman, to be out of sight is to be out of 
mind. A few days later came a decree from the 
German Commandant, obliging the citizens to 
open their doors and shops, and to resume the 
ordinary traffic. 



86 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. vii. 

I left the town by the Balan gate, stepped off 
the high road, which was blocked with transport 
and Commissariat waggons, and took my way 
through the fields. In this short journey of less 
than a mile, I unwittingly stepped over many a 
grave, and was sometimes made unpleasantly 
aware of the proximity of its occupant to the 
surface. Having arrived at my destination, which 
was easily found, — for the chateau was an ancient 
mansion, standing in the midst of fine woods and 
gardens, and had an avenue leading from the 
village through a handsome entrance.— I delivered 
my orders, and then looked round the hospital. 
It was airy, clean, and commodious, was evidently 
worked on system, and not overcrowded. In 
attention to this latter point, lies the secret of 
success in a field hospital. 

I was privately made aware of an interesting 
fact, that the pleasant old man who went about 
dressed in a rustic costume, blue blouse, loose 
trousers, and rough shoes, and made himself 
generally useful, was the owner of this pretty 
place. He had adopted the disguise as a safe- 
guard against the Prussians, and in order to keep 
an eye on his property. From time to time, he 
produced out of his secret stores wine of an old 
vintage and corned meat, — both welcome delicacies 
during those days of horseflesh soup and black 
bread. 

Having done my errand, I walked through a 



CH. VII. BAZEILLES IN RUINS. 8^ 

plantation which communicated by a wicket with 
the road leading to the village. More than a 
week had elapsed since our attention was being 
drawn In the direction of Bazeilles by those con- 
tinued volleys of musketry, and the fearful con- 
flagration which had been so conspicuous in the 
darkness. Yet some of the houses were 
smouldering as I passed through. One of our 
Ambulance surgeons who had been present at 
the street-fighting, gave a vivid description of 
the scenes enacted there under his own observa- 
tion ; but to these I have already alluded, and I 
shall relate only what I saw. Here it was that 
the dead lay in such heaps that they had to be 
cleared away before the cavalry could pass. Now 
all were decently buried, except such as lay 
beneath the burning ruins, and of these, people 
said, there were numbers. As the weather was 
again very close, the odour was in some places 
most disagreeably perceptible. Strewn about 
was debris of every kind ; arms, accoutrements, 
broken furniture and household effects, portions 
of bedding, and shreds of women's and children's 
clothing. I pulled at one piece of a garment 
which was visible through the debris of a ruined 
house, and fancied that its wearer was lying only 
a few inches beneath. It was a child, so far 
as I could judge from the dress. That thought 
made me hurry away from the spot with a 
feeling of sickness. Before its downfall, Bazeilles 



88 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. vii. 

had been a pretty little town, each house having 
its own trees and garden ; but now, with the ex- 
ception of a few flowers and shrubs at the Mairie, 
all had been destroyed. There were statues and 
vases still standing in their place ; but not a 
single thing which could lead one to suppose that, 
a few days previously, this heap of ruins had been 
a thriving village, its streets lined with comfortable 
houses, and its people flourishing. 

The village church, standing in the centre of 
the Square, was a total wreck. On entering, I 
perceived that here, too, the shells had done their 
work effectively ; for the altar seemed as if it had 
been struck and shivered to pieces by a mighty 
hammer. The stone font set in the wall was 
broken to bits, the glass hung in cones from the 
windows. I have kept some of these as memorials 
to this day. Among the rubbish of the altar and 
tabernacle, I came upon a piece of shell, — the 
same, no doubt, that wrecked the sanctuary. This 
I have also preserved. 

For some time I wandered about the deserted 
streets, taking in the sad sight. So fierce had 
been the conflagration that the trees were burned 
down to the bare trunks. On turning a corner, 
I espied at the top of the street, facing me, a man 
with a portfolio and easel in front of him, hard at 
work sketching the ruins. As I approached he 
gave me a searching look, and resumed his work. 
Later on he came up to the Hospital, and I found 



CH. VII. FAMISHED CHILDREN. 89 

he was an artist on the staff of the Illustrated 
London News, In that paper I saw afterwards 
the sketch he was taking ; and a very excellent 
one I judge it to be. 

On the way back to my quarters I saw a crowd 
of children at a convent door, from the steps of 
which two nuns were distributing bread from a 
large basket. These children, I was informed, 
were some of the innocents who had fled with 
their mothers from the burning village. It made 
my heart ache to see the eagerness with which 
these half-famished little creatures snatched at and 
began to devour the bread. And now as I slowly 
trudged up the steep path which led to our Hos- 
pital, I could not but reflect how terrible a curse 
is war, and what a very faint idea he will have of 
it who has not seen the detestable thing face to 
face. 

Our Hospital work, hitherto very heavy indeed, 
was now increased by our thirty-six tents. All 
were filled with wounded ; and we should soon 
have overtasked our strength, but for the timely 
assistance which the English Society lent us. 
About the nth September, Drs. A. O. Mackellar, 
Sherwell, Beck and Warren, and two dressers, 
accompanied by two English nursing Sisters — 
Miss Pearson and Miss McLoughlin — arrived, 
the former from Metz, the latter from London. 
They brought a supply of Mallow condensed milk 
and potted beef — a welcome supplement to black 



90 WITH AN AMBULANCE. cH. vii. 

coffee and horseflesh soup. Up to this we had 
quite forgotten the outer world ; and we knew 
httle of the great events which had passed, and 
were passing, outside our own Hmited experience. 

Some days previous to being thus reinforced, 
several of us were attacked by intestinal disorders, 
from which I, among the number, suffered severely. 
In a few days, the origin of this malady was ac- 
counted for. The body of a Zouave, in a state of 
semi-decomposition, was drawn out of the well 
which alone supplied the Hospital. 

His presence there was discovered by the 
bumping of the bucket against something soft, 
when a grappling iron was let down and brought 
up the dead body. . . . This poor fellow had, we 
supposed, been wounded slightly on the ist ; and, 
during that night, or the night after, had dragged 
himself to the edge of the well, and had fallen in, 
probably owing to his efforts to procure some 
relief from his thirst. There was no other way 
of accounting for his presence. Dr. MacCormac 
christened this well '* L'Eau de Zouave ". I 
resolved never again to complain of the coarse 
and scanty fare upon which we subsisted ; but 
my blood curdled at the thought that this un- 
savoury and deadly beverage, in the shape of a 
cold infusion of Zouave and brandy, had for some 
days past been my chief drink. Such is war ! 

The weather, which had been fine and warm 
since we left Paris, had now become wet and 



CH. VII. BAD WEATHER AND HEAVY LOSSES. 9 1 

Stormy. In spite of all we could do, the misery 
and wretchedness of the wounded under canvas 
was beyond description. F'or the rain came 
through the tents and soaked their scanty bedding. 
I occupied a small tent in the middle of the others ; 
and to give some notion of the weather, I may 
mention that one night, when I had taken off 
nearly all my clothes (by no means a usual, or 
always possible, proceeding) and had got be- 
tween the blankets, being stretched on a straw 
mattress, I awoke to find myself in the open air, 
with the rain and wind beating fiercely upon me. 
The tent had been swept away by a gust of wind. 
I started out of bed, and, standing in the dark, up 
to my ankles in mud, drenched, and not half- 
dressed, called to the Hospital guard. One of 
them brought a lantern, and guided me to the 
main building close by, where I found some dry 
clothes, and made up a bed with a few benches 
in the mess-room. With the help of a tumbler 
of brandy and hot water, and a dose of chlorodyne, 
I had an excellent night's rest in my new 
quarters. 

But this bad weather, exposure, and over- 
crowding — all things beyond our control — brought 
disaster into our camp. Pyaemia and secondary 
hemorrhage showed themselves everywhere. All 
our secondary operations died, and I regret to 
say that their places were immediately filled up 
by the Germans, who turned all the French 



92 WITH AN AMBULANCE. CH. vii. 

wounded that they could out of the principal 
buildings of the town, and sent them up to us, in 
order to make room for their own. Though the 
position of the tents was changed, and disinfec- 
tants used as far as possible, numbers of these 
new invalids had been hardly with us a couple 
of days when they were seized by the same in- 
fection. The Hospital had become a centre of 
the plague, and threatened to be a death-trap to 
all who should be sent thither. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

TWO THOUSAND PATIENTS. — NIGGER CHARLIE. — LOUIS 
ST. AUBIN, CHASSEUR D'AFRIQUE. — THE BOY 
PEYEN. — GUNS CAPTURED IN THE TOWN. 

The number of wounded in the care of our Am- 
bulance was at this time, roughly speaking, about 
500. There were 218 in the Caserne; each of 
the thirty-three tents held 4 patients, and Dr. 
Frank had in his Hospital 150 Bavarians. This 
will make the total given above a fairly accurate 
estimate. During and after the battles of the 
31st August, and the ist September, the number 
of men whose wounds we dressed and attended 
to, without receiving them into the Hospital, was 
calculated by us at about 2000. Nor can this be 
thouo^ht excessive, when, within rifle rang^e around 
us, there were of French wounded alone, over 
12,500. 

A further insight into the magnitude of our 
labours may be gained from the fact that in our 
Hospital at Sedan we had a total of 436 primary 
operations, — 152 for injuries of the upper, and 
284 for injuries of the lower extremities. Another 
interesting fact worth recording is, that during 
(93) 



94 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. viii. 

the battles about Sedan, not a single case of 
wound by a mitrailleuse bullet was met with 
by any member of our staff 

Dr. Marion Sims assured us that the hard- 
ships we endured, and the amount of work we 
actually got through, went beyond the limits of 
his varied experience. To enter at length into 
details would, besides involving obscure techni- 
calities, be tedious to the general reader. I will 
confine myself to a brief account of our Staff and 
General Management, and select from my obser- 
vations a few interesting cases. I have named, 
the original members of our Ambulance, and those 
who had recently joined us. Nor must I lorget 
Pere Bayonne, the Dominican Friar, who was 
a general favourite, and untiring In his efforts to 
deal with the religious wants of the dying soldiers 
— no easy task among Frenchmen. Neither ought 
I to omit M. Monod, our Protestant chaplain, 
a quiet, gentlemanly man, who moved noiselessly 
about, and slipped little pamphlets with stories 
of the usual type, and sheets of paper with Bible- 
texts printed on them, into the patients' beds as 
he went along. 

But I have yet to mention, at such length as 
he deserves, one of the most notable characters 
in our Ambulance, our chef de cuisine and stud- 
groom, "Nigger Charlie". He was coal-black, 
and he and his forefathers had been Virginian 
slaves In Dr. Pratt's family. When the slaves 



CH. VIII. AN UNWILLING P^REEMAN. 95 

were enfranchised, and slavery abolished, Charlie 
came to Paris with his master, whose family were 
ruined by the emancipation, for all their wealth 
had consisted in their slaves. At Paris, Charlie 
served Dr. Pratt faithfully for years ; indeed, he 
often told me that he loved his master more dearly 
than his life. Dr. Pratt, on the other hand, knew 
and said that in spite of his undoubted devotion, 
Charlie would sometimes steal his money and 
pawn his plate, after which he would take to his 
heels, coming back only when all he had gained 
in this unrighteous fashion was spent. But, though 
chastised not too leniently with the whip, nothing 
would induce him to run away for good. It was, 
in fact, impossible to get rid of him. 

When, therefore, the negro heard that his 
master had joined the Ambulance, although he 
had a good salary as courier in an American Bank 
in Paris, he packed up his traps, and, without 
saying a word, landed himself into the train by 
which we arrived at Sedan. He was a wonderful 
cook, and knew how to serve up horseflesh soup 
and steaks so as to defy detection. He was also 
a wit of quite a brilliant type, a great rider and 
judge of horses, and as a liar beat all records. 
But his most decided characteristics were hatred 
of the Yankee, contempt for black men, and a 
chivalrous devotion to white women. I had many 
a pleasant chat with him. His descriptions of 
slave life in Virginia, as he said it went on in nine 



g6 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. viii. 

cases out of ten, and of the happiness of their 
domestic situation and surroundings, were ex- 
tremely vivid and even touching. I presume he 
was, at any rate, a true witness in his own behalf. 

Now, as to the exact nature of our Hospital 
work and its results. It is to me a constant sub- 
ject of regret that our knowledge of the antiseptic 
treatment and drainage of wounds was then only 
in its beginning. Although lint and charpie dress- 
ings were used, saturated with carbolic solution, 
yet covered as they were with oiled silk and a 
bandage, their effect was spoiled. Neither was 
any serious attempt made to render the instru- 
ments, operating table, and surroundings of the 
patients, aseptic. Hence the high rate of mortality 
which ensued. Startling, in fact, as the statement 
may appear, I am convinced that if we had re- 
frained from performing a single secondary opera- 
tion at Sedan, our results would have turned out 
far better. 

There was associated with every individual in 
this great host of patients an interesting story,— 
how, w^hen, and where did they receive their 
wounds ? And among the number some cases 
could not fail to be exceptionally romantic or 
affecting. The sketch I have already given of 
Louis St. Aubin's adventures, — that brave Chas- 
seur d'Afrique who was thrice wounded on the 
I St, — may be taken as an instance ; and I will 
now add what happened in the sequel. 



t-'Htj-b-^-^'-M^'' ' • 



i-.nviK ' iV.i.-v . ," 



CH. VIII. THE CHASSEUR D'AFRIQUE. 9/ 

St. iVubin came into the Hospital under Dr. 
May's care and mine. Two days afterwards, Dr. 
MacCormac performed resection of both his 
joints. But so afraid was Louis that advantage 
might be taken of his induced sleep to amputate 
his arm (a mutilation to which the poor fellow 
would in no case submit) that he refused utterly 
to be put under chloroform. Throughout the 
operation, which was of necessity a protracted 
one, he bore up with amazing courage. When 
the bones had to be sawn through, he clenched 
his teeth on the fold of a sheet, and, except to 
give utterance to a few stifled groans, neither 
flinched nor moved a muscle. His powers of 
endurance were wonderful. Day after day I 
attended at this brave fellow's bedside, and he and 
I became much attached to one another. I took 
him little delicacies when I could procure them, 
and I was determined not to let him die if I could 
help it. Dr. MacCormac visited him very often; 
but he was quite jealous of allowing any one but 
Dr. May or myself to dress his wounds. 

For some time he went on favourably, — a pro- 
gress which I observed with pleasure ; but then 
fell back so much that we almost despaired. At 
this time his sufferings were intense ; and I had 
much to do to keep him in bed. One day he 
implored of me to put him altogether out of his 
pain ; I expostulated with him as firmly as I could, 
and pointed out how unmanly it was to use such 
7 



98 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. viii. 

language, whatever he might be enduring ; when 
he said, with an agonising earnestness, " Tell me, 
doctor, is it possible that Christ suffered as much 
as I am suffering now?" I answered, ''Your 
pain is as nothing to His," and he calmed down 
and went through his agony in silence. 

Happily, it was not long until he became 
better ; and when in course of time, I was obliged 
to leave with the Ambulance and go to the front, 
he was rapidly recovering. Our parting was 
sorrowful, for I honoured and loved the noble 
spirit of that dauntless soldier. He begged for 
my address in Ireland, that he might write to me ; 
and he has done so several times. I subjoin the 
translation of one of his letters sent to me while 
he was in Hospital after I had left Sedan. 

"Sedan, Oct. loth, 1870. 

" Monsieur le Docteur, 

" I do not wish to delay any longer before 
giving you an account of myself, and once more 
expressing my gratitude for the interest you have 
taken and the care you have lavished on me. 
What am I to tell you about my wound ? It is 
slow in healing, and since your departure, I have 
had to undergo treatment very different from 
yours ; but I have not given up the hope of a 
complete recovery, although I suffer a good deal, 
and am obliged to stay in bed. 

" I should be very happy if I could see you at 
my bedside, M. le Docteur. In spite of the pains 



CH. VIII. PEYEN OF THE LINE. 99 

taken with me, I feel your going away ; you were 
so kind and patient. Shall I ever see you again, 
and thank you with my own lips ? I hope so with 
all my heart. I will never forget you. 

'' Please accept, with the expression of my 
deepest gratitude, my entire devotion. 

" Louis St. Aubin. 

" I take the liberty of sending you my address, 
and I hope you will do me the honour of letting 
me hear from you. Thanks to the kindness of 
M. de Montagnac, I shall receive your letter 
direct." 

The address given was that gentleman's, at 
Bouillon. 

I insert this touching note, less on account of 
the generous acknowledgment which Louis St. 
Aubin makes to his doctor, than to show what 
fine qualities were in him, and how gracefully his 
French courtesy enabled him to express himself. 
Indeed, when his Colonel came to see the lad, he 
declared that Louis was the best and bravest 
soldier in his troop, and that he did not know 
what fear was. 

Another young fellow, quite a boy, Peyen of 
the 50th Regiment of the Line, had been shot 
through the wrist, and Dr. May considered that 
amputation was necessary. He was a bright 
young fellow, with a beaming countenance and a 
twinkle in his eye; and when I came to let him 
know our determination, and take him to the 
LofC. 



100 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. viii. 

Operation ward, I found him smoking a cigar. 
Not a bit dismayed, he got out of bed, sHpped 
on his trousers, and tripped briskly up the cloister, 
smoking his cigar all the while, until he mounted 
the operation table. His arm was amputated ; 
but when he recovered from the chloroform state, 
he declined to go back to bed until he saw his 
comrade's leg cut off. " I want," said Peyen, "to 
tell him how it was done." This might be an 
incident in Le Conscrit of MM. Erckmann-Cha- 
trian. 

He quietly smoked another cigar which I 
procured for him, and attentively watched every 
step of the operation ; after which, he and his 
companion returned to their ward together. 

Peyen wrote me a letter, which I still possess, 
and will here append, to show me how well he 
could write with his left hand. Nothing but a 
facsimile could do justice to the quaint and brave 
caligraphy of this letter, which I am sorry not to 
reproduce in the original. It read pretty much as 
follows : — 

"At Sedan, September i8th, [870. 

"On the 4th of August, took place the Battle 
of Bixembourg (sic) from 9 in the morning till 
9 at night. The division Douai, composed of 
about 8000 men, too weak to resist an enemy six 
times their number, was forced to beat a retreat 
to Hagenau. In this sad engagement General 
Douai was killed at the head of his Division. 



CH. viii. CAPTURED GUNS. lOI 

The battle was won by the Prussians, — that is 
true, but the honour remains with France, the 
Division having stood against 60,000 men all that 
day, and having even prevented them for five 
hours from ascending the slope of Bixembourg. 
(Signed) 'Teyen, Louis, 

" Ever your devoted servant. 
" To M. le Docteur of Ward No. 5." 

This plucky young fellow recovered without a 
single bad symptom. But, alas ! it was not so 
with a vast number of our other patients ; for, 
about the 14th, many of them were in a bad way, 
and nearly all our staff complained of not feeling 
well. Dr. Sims noticed one day that the work 
was telling on mej and ordered me off duty, 
sending me out for a walk. 

Accordingly, I went into the town, and saw 
the French guns which had now been stored in 
the Park, or exercise ground for the troops during 
times of peace. I never shall forget that sight. 
There were 400 pieces of artillery of all sizes, in- 
cluding 70 mitrailleuses packed close together. 
The question suggested itself, Would an army 
of 100,000 Englishmen, with this amount of guns 
and ammunition, submit to lay down their arms 
and skulk into Germany ? Could any combina- 
tion of circumstances make such a thing possible ? 
I do not believe it. An officer on duty about the 
place kindly took me through the Park, and 
showed me the working of the mitrailleuse, as 



102 WITH AN AMBULANCE. CH. viii. 

well as a number of heavy cannon. He warned 
me against picking up unburst shells, for they 
had been known to explode as long as seventeen 
days after being fired — a statement which I 
thought unlikely. 

Standing beside this plateau was a large 
building which belonged to the Nuns of the 
Assumption, and in which a sister of mine, who is 
in that Order, had until recently been living. I 
paid them a visit and the Mother Superior 
received me cordially, telling me of their labours 
on behalf of the wounded, and pointing out 
where a shell had struck one of the doors 
leading into the garden. There was also a round 
hole in another door, as clean cut by a bullet as 
if it had been done with a punch. 

The refectory of these good Sisters was now 
made the operation room ; and many of the 
lightly wounded were limping on crutches up 
and down the cloisters, their faces beaming with 
contentment, as well they might, for the Nuns 
were indefatigable in attending to their wants. 
Having bidden adieu to the amiable Superior, 
I directed my steps to the Place de Turenne. 
Here the church, theatre, public schools, and 
extensive buildings of the cloth and silk factories 
in the Rue Marqua, were crowded with invalids, 
as was every second house in the town. All 
these showed the Red Cross flag — under Prussian 
management, and I looked into some of them, 



CH. VIII. MY DAILY TASKS. IO3 

thinking that the Church especially, was an un- 
canny sight when turned into a hospital and full 
of the wounded. 

I now passed on through the town, and out 
by the Torcy Gate, and so home again. It was 
four days before I was allowed another ramble, 
as Dr. May had a slight attack of blood poison- 
ing, and his work was given to me. Most of our 
infirmiers had been drawn by the Prussians. 
Those that remained were French ambulance 
men ; and, if we except three, were altogether 
ignorant, lazy, and good-for-nothing fellows. They 
had received no technical training ; and the task, 
therefore, which devolved upon me taxed the 
energies of mind and body. 

Some of our patients were wounded in three, 
four, five, and, in one instance, in six places, which 
made the dressing of their wounds a tedious affair. 
I had also to dress ten or a dozen amputated 
limbs. At one time I had in my charge eighteen 
of these, a couple of resections, no end of flesh 
wounds from bullet and shell, numerous fractures 
— most of them compound ones — and all varieties 
of lacerations and contusions. About this time 
there were some forty secondary operations, in 
all of which conservative surgery had been tried ; 
but owing to the overcrowded state and vitiated 
atmosphere of the Hospital, these patients nearly 
all succumbed. From the commencement our 
lightly wounded men were removed as soon as 



I04 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. viii. 

possible, and sent to some French or Belgian 
Military Hospital. The result was that, after a 
few days, we had none in our care but the severely 
wounded. I cannot conclude without mentioning 
the kind way in which Dr. Marion Sims dealt 
with me. Nor shall I ever cease to recall with 
gratitude, his invariable consideration for one so 
much younger than himself and wholly without 
experience. 



CHAPTER IX. 

SUSPICIOUS PRUSSIANS. — THE ILLUSTRIOUS STROMEYER. 
—OPEN-AIR TREATMENT. — NEUTRALITY BECOMES 
DIFFICULT. — DR. SIMS LEAVES US. — UNDER AR- 
REST. — FAREWELL TO SEDAN. 

I FORGOT to mention a curious story told me by a 
French soldier, who had a bullet wound through 
his arm. To account for it, he said that it had 
been received from the pistol of a Prussian horse- 
man, to whom he was in the act of handing a 
piece of bread, which the fellow had asked of him. 
Could this be true ? It seems to me incredible, 
and, for the honour of our common humanity, I 
hope was false. 

A strange encounter which one of our new 
arrivals, Dr. Warren, had with two Prussian 
sentinels caused some excitement, and not a 
little amusement, among the rest of us. Dr. 
Warren was returning after dark, with some arms 
that he had secured as trophies, and secreted a few 
days previously. W^hen he was passing beneath 
the ramparts a sentinel from above halted him, and 
challenged him to give the word. Dr. Warren, 
(105) 



I06 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. ix. 

who could then neither speak nor understand 
French or German, shouted and made such ex- 
planations as he could in English, which it is 
needless to observe the sentinel did not com- 
prehend. How unsatisfactory they were to him 
our friend was quickly convinced, by the sentry 
raising his rifle and firing at his head. He heard 
the bullet hit the bank close beside him, and, as 
it was dusk, the flash revealed two other sentries 
on their beat near by, one of whom followed suit ; 
but luckily with no better success. 

A yet more extraordinary method of assault 
was now resorted to by a third, who, being con- 
scious, no doubt, of his incompetence as a marks- 
man, began to hurl large stones over the ramparts 
at our stranger. Thus far. Dr. Warren had been 
standing petrified with astonishment, but now 
realising his position he made up his mind to 
run, which he did at the utmost speed, for he 
expected every second to feel a bullet through 
him, the only doubt being where he would 
get hit. He escaped, and the whole affair was 
reported to the Prussian commandant. This 
officer had two of the sentinels mildly reproved 
for their excess of zeal, and the hurler punished 
in that he had adopted an unsoldierly method 
of attack. Dr. Scott suggested to me that 
this last man must have been by descent from 
Tipperary. 

Misadventures were in the air just then ; for, 



CH. IX. VISITS FROM THE PRUSSIANS. IO7 

a morning or two afterwards, Drs. Parker and 
Marcus Beck happened to ignite some cartridges 
which were lying on the ground near the Hospital, 
and thereby caused an explosion. The guard 
turned out, arrested our two heroes, and took 
them before the commandant, who, upon receiv- 
ing their explanation, set them at liberty. As 
time wore on, our relations with the Teutons be- 
came more and more friendly. At first they had 
looked upon us with distrust ; but, when they 
found that our organisation was thoroughly inter- 
national, that we were independent of the French, 
and our staff and management as complete and 
efficient as they proved, the invaders seemed to 
take unusual interest in us. Their surgeons came 
in numbers to the Hospital, where, of course, they 
met with all civility ; and we, on our side, had 
nothing of which to complain. 

Not only so. Their surgeon-general, the 
great Stromeyer, condescended to inspect our 
hospital, and complimenting the Chief on its details 
and management, invited him to visit his own 
Ambulance at Floing. Dr. MacCormac did so, 
and was highly pleased with all he saw. The 
success of the Prussian surgical operations was 
very striking. It contrasted most favourably 
with our results ; but this depended, in great 
measure, on the Floing Hospital having been 
a temporary structure, consisting of improvised 
shanties, boarded all round in such a way that 



I08 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. ix. 

the sides could be opened at will in louvre fashion, 
so that, weather permitting, the patients were 
treated practically in the open air, yet without 
subjecting them to chill or exposure. I conceive 
that this was the explanation of their low death- 
rate, for the surgical methods of procedure were 
identical with our own. And I may anticipate 
here a remark which my experience at Orleans 
afterwards confirmed, viz., that such open-air 
treatment is the only effective protection against 
blood-poisoning. 

This was the first introductory step to our 
transition from the French to the German side, 
but the change was slow and gradual. Hints, in- 
deed, were constantly thrown out that our services 
would be well received, if we followed on in the 
track of their army. At first we firmly asserted our 
neutrality. But we were made to understand that 
the attitude we had assumed was impracticable ; 
we must make up our minds to be on one side or 
the other. These warnings did much to determine 
the line of action upon which we finally resolved. 
Our movements were also influenced by the fact 
that while, as regarded the majority of our staff, 
our sympathies were undoubtedly French, yet 
later on, when we came in contact with the 
Prussians, and got to know them thoroughly, 
the admiration with which we started for the 
other side was very much cooled down. We 
looked on the belligerents with less prejudiced 



CH. IX. UNCONCERN OF THE FRENCH OFFICERS. I09 

eyes, and, in the long run, had no decided lean- 
ing one way or another. 

In a few days from the time of which I have 
spoken above, Dr. May was sufficiently well to 
resume duty. There was a fresh addition to our 
staff in the person of Dr. Sherwell, and our duties 
becoming less laborious, suffered us at length to 
breathe. We could now go down frequently in 
the evening, for an hour, either to the Hotel de 
la Croix d'Or, or to a first-rate cafe in the Rue 
Napoleon, where it was possible to enjoy a smoke 
or a drink, and a game of billiards upon a table 
without pockets. This was a great recreation, and 
I found it did one good after the labours of the 
day. There we met the French officers who 
were on parole, and not a little surprise did we 
feel to see them smoke, drink, and crack jokes as 
if the capitulation of Sedan were ancient history. 
There also we came across the surgeons and 
assistants of the Prussian Military Hospitals, 
many of whom knew French fairly well, and not 
a few spoke English. We, however, had to be 
back again by nine o'clock, before our drawbridge 
was taken up ; for the standing order had been 
issued that any one found in the streets after that 
hour was liable to be shot. 

On one occasion I happened to be returning 
with a fellow ''Chip," who, after the labours 
of the day, had partaken rather too freely of 
"bock" and ''cognac de cafe". With no small 



I lO WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. ix. 

difficulty I had induced him to start, and we 
found the streets dotted with sentries on night- 
duty. Hence, every few minutes we were 
halted, and made to advance until their bayonets 
almost touched our shirt-fronts. This would 
not have made me nervous, had not my friend, 
who was a good deal more noisy since he 
tasted the open air, objected to being stopped by 
the sentries in so rude a fashion. He declined, 
in short, to account for himself. Fearing un- 
pleasant consequences, I came forward on the 
approach of every sentry and gave the name of 
our corps, specifying our quarters, and adding 
gently, " Mein Freund hat zu viel bock ge- 
trunken ". They invariably met the palaver with 
a laugh, and let us pass on, for some of them 
knew who we were. One fellow, either a little 
more inquisitive than the rest, or else not recog- 
nising our uniforms, put us through a regular 
examination, upon which my companion began to 
speak roughly, and even made a clutch at his rifle. 
Fortunately, the sentinel perceived what was the 
matter, and was willing to let him pass ; but my 
man wouldn't stir an inch. Here was a predica- 
ment ! As he could speak a little German, he 
used his knowledge to abuse the good-natured 
sentry, and when he had come to the end of his 
vocabulary, began again in French (of which 
language he was perfect master), winding up at 
last in English. The soldier presented his rifle, 



CH. IX. FAREWELL TO DR. SIMS. 1 1 1 

I daresay with the intention of frightening my 
comrade ; and I thought it time to seize him by 
the collar and get him along by main force. Thus 
we arrived within regulation distance of the gates 
of the Citadel. 

The bridges were up, and the sentry on duty 
refused to let us advance any further. By this 
time my friend had quieted down, and was begin- 
ning to realise his position ; for here we had to 
wait fully half an hour while the sentry was hailing 
the others, who in their turn hailed some more, 
and so on, until the officer of the watch came on 
the scene. His business was to call out the guard, 
when, after much shouting, shuffling, and shoulder- 
ing of arms, the drawbridge was let down and we 
were admitted. I was glad enough to get my 
obstreperous friend safely landed within. It w^as 
a parlous incident, though my friend's drollery 
and witty sotto voce remarks — for he was not really 
overcome by the '' bock " to the extent of intoxica- 
tion — have often made me laugh heartily since. 

I have thus brought my readers to the middle 
of our third week at Sedan ; and it was with 
feelings of sincere regret that we now bade adieu 
to Dr. Marion Sims, who, in so short a space of 
time, had won the regard of every member of our 
staff He appointed in his place Drs. Frank and 
MacCormac as co-surgeons in chief — Dr. Frank 
for the Balan and Bazeilles division of our 
Ambulance, Dr. MacCormac for Sedan. 



112 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. ix. 

As our work was growing gradually less, we 
now had time for a ride nearly every afternoon. 
There was one in particular which I enjoyed 
much, and often took in company with my friend 
Hay den. It was from Sedan to Bouillon, con- 
veying or bringing back the post. This was the 
only channel through which we could receive 
letters from home. Bouillon, as is well known, 
is a very picturesque town, about six miles from 
the frontier, and twelve from Sedan. The road 
thither goes through Balan, Givet, and Givonne, 
over hills and dales, and through a finely wooded 
country, partly lying in the Forest of Ardennes, 
from which there stretches a vast succession of 
woods for twenty or thirty miles. As we near 
our destination the road winds circuitously, and 
turns at last into the Valley of Bouillon. When 
I saw it, the autumn colours were all abroad, and 
no prospect could be more enchanting. There, 
beneath us, nestling amid the foliage, now rich 
and golden, which clothed its hills, lay in the noon- 
day sun, the ancient town of Bouillon, through 
which a rapid and boiling river, the Somme, flowed 
over a rocky bed, and was leaping and dancing 
round one huge boulder, above which rose the ivy- 
mantled turrets of Godfrey's once mighty fortress. 
The steep and grassy slopes seemed to come 
down sheer to the water's edge. It was a place 
of sunshine, quiet and secure ; and, at first sight, 
one would have thought it inaccessible. 



CH. IX. THE "BLACK AND TANS". II3 

I may mention that it was in this little expedi- 
tion, when passing by Givonne, that I espied, 
lying on his side and basking at full length in 
the sun, a beautiful black and tan hound, identical 
in appearance with the old breed of Kerry 
beagles. My companion was amused that I 
could feel excited about Kerry beagles. But I 
had my reasons, and I asked the owner of the 
house to whom the dog might belong. He 
replied that it was the property of a Marquis in 
the Ardennes, who kept a pack for hunting deer 
and wild boars, and he added that probably such 
a dog would not be sold under 500 francs. The 
" Black and Tans " are an old-established pack 
in my neighbourhood, with which I have long 
had very close associations ; and it made my 
blood run faster to be reminded of them in the 
neighbourhood of the Forest of Ardennes, which 
for the world at large has other memories, less 
personal, if more poetic. 

Having arrived at our destination, and de- 
livered and received our letters, we had a good 
dinner and a smoke. None of my readers can 
know the pleasure of a good dinner if they have 
not lived in a situation like that which was then 
allotted to us. We went to see the old castle, 
with its corridors hewn out of the solid rock, 
and its manhole in the parapet leaning over the 
river, from which highwaymen and robbers — if 
not others less guilty — were hurled into the waters 



1 14 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. ix. 

beneath. Lingering about the place for hours 
after we ought to have started, the evening came 
on so quickly that we shirked the long journey 
in the dark. We thought it better to stay the 
night at Bouillon, and take our chance of getting 
off a reprimand by means of this explanation. 

At first light next morning we started, but on 
arriving at the Hospital, Dr. May, without asking 
why we had come after time, informed us from the 
chief that we must consider ourselves as under 
arrest until further notice. This was not exactly 
pleasant. But we had our work to do, and there 
can be no doubt that the strict discipline kept in 
our Ambulance was what made it so successful. 

Many members of the French Hospital staff, 
whom I met here and elsewhere, assured me that 
jealousy and want of discipline among them were 
potent causes of their failure ; their supply of 
material — which was generally very short — in 
some cases outlasting the final disruption. 

1 had one other most interesting expedition, to 
the Chateau Bellevue and along by the hills 
where the Prussians established their heavy guns 
on the First. It commanded the whole valley, 
and as we looked down upon the Plateau of 
Floing, the Bois de Garenne, the slopes of Givonne, 
and our hospital standing on its huge embank- 
ment above the ramparts of Sedan between them 
and us, the only wonder was that a single man 
of us remained alive. 



CH. IX. LAST DAYS AT SEDAN. 1 1 5 

It was now time to think of a fresh field for 
our labours. Dr. Parker and I were deputed to 
visit Arlon, a town in Belgium about thirty-five 
miles distant, to consult with Capt. H. Bracken- 
bury, who was secretary to the English Aid 
Society on the Continent. We made the journey 
in a two-horse open carriage by way of Bouillon 
in about ten hours ; and with such charming 
scenery, and in agreeable companionship, the 
journey could not fail to prove delightful. 

On the next day, Sunday, we had an interview 
with Brackenbury's secretary, for he was not 
at home himself; and we then started off again 
for Sedan before there was a soul in the streets, 
so that my recollections of Arlon do not amount 
to a great deal. 

On our return the staff held a meeting, at 
which Dr. MacCormac gave in his resignation 
as chief in favour of Dr. Pratt (son-in-law to 
Marion Sims), who succeeded him. Dr. Mac- 
Cormac was engaged, as we knew, to deliver 
an inaugural address at the Queen's College, 
Belfast, about the middle of October ; and his 
pupil, Scott, accompanied him on his depar- 
ture. As Dr. Nicholl also wished to return 
to America, it was arranged that Wyman and 
Hewitt should continue with Dr. Frank for some 
time before we disbanded, for the Hospital at 
Bazeilles had to be wound up with our own. The 
following members were then selected to proceed 



Il6 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. ix. 

to the front, — our new chief, Dr. Pratt, and 
Drs. May, Tilghman, Mackellar, Parker, Warren, 
Hayden, Sherwell, Wallace, Wombwell, Adams, 
and myself. These formed the staff. With us 
went, of course, Nigger Charlie, and a Turco named 
Jean. This Turco had received a bullet in the 
back at Metz, during an effort (which proved 
successful) to get water from a well which was 
guarded by a Prussian picket, who had already 
bowled over four or five others intent on the 
same enterprise. 

The 4th of October, which was the day 
appointed for starting, arrived. We said good- 
bye to the few patients now remaining, who were 
to be taken over by Dr. Frank. Among them 
was my friend Louis St. Aubin. The poor fellow 
on taking leave of me, in his weak state, sobbed 
like a child, and I felt equally grieved at having 
to part from him. We bade farewell to Dr. Mac- 
Cormac with much regret ; and then the draw- 
bridge was let down, Dr. Pratt gave the word 
to start, and the Anglo-American Ambulance 
made its exit from the Caserne, slowly wending 
its way down the rugged path, en route for 
Paris. 

The first chapter in my experience of a military 
Hospital, and of the battlefield, was closed. 



CHAPTER X. 

RISKY TRAVELLING. — AT BRUSSELS. — FRENCH AMBU- 
LANCE BREAKS DOWN COMPLETELY. — WE START 
AGAIN FOR PARIS. 

Dr. Pratt was of opinion that, if the Germans 
did not require our services, they might perhaps 
allow US to get into Paris, where, as it was 
rumoured, medical men were scarce. With this 
object in view, we had determined to go round 
by Belgium, and now made for Bouillon, the 
nearest frontier town. It was a lovely evening 
when we arrived. As we came near the custom- 
house — ''la Dotiane,'' the meaning of which 
I now understood — we were in a state of trepida- 
tion lest, on the waggons being overhauled, our 
trophies of Sedan should be discovered and taken 
from us. For my part, I had hidden my chasse- 
pot, pistol, sword, and lance-top from the Plain 
of Floing, securely beneath some sacks of 
corn. But the officers allowed us to pass with 
only a formal scrutiny. As it was late, we stayed 
that night in Bouillon at the hotel. All our 
baggage, waggons, horses, and infirmarians were 
quartered in the old Castle yard ; and, having 
(117) 



Il8 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. x. 

given my horse to the groom to be picketed (for 
I had turned my grey Arab loose again on the 
plains of Sedan), I joined Hayden, and went 
down into the town to look for quarters. When 
we had secured them, we dined very comfortably 
at our hotel with the rest of the staff This was 
the first meal we had enjoyed for many weeks in 
a neighbourhood free from war's alarms, and we 
found it pleasant. 

After a sound night's rest we arose at three, 
and had our horses and men together at the 
appointed time, which was an hour later. But 
more time elapsed before all was ready, and it 
was quite five when marching orders were given. 
We reached Libramont after a pleasant five 
hours' journey through a pretty and very interest- 
ing country. Here all our staff, with the excep- 
tion of Hayden and myself, took the fast train to 
Brussels. 

We two had been told off to stay in charge of 
the infirmiers, waggons, horses, and stores, which 
we were to take on to Brussels in the evening, by 
luggage-train. This was a heavy task, and occu- 
pied nearly all the afternoon. Moreover, we had 
to get our ten horses fed, watered, cleaned, and 
boxed, which was far from easy, considering that 
few of the infi^^miers knew anything about the 
management of horses, while their boxing and 
conveyance by train were quite beyond them. 
Here my experience of boxing horses for the 



CH. X. AN UNEASY JOURNEY. II9 

world-renowned Fair of Cahirmee, near Buttevant, 
stood me in very good stead. Three of our 
waggons were heavily laden with stores and corn, 
and required a truck each for themselves. The 
fourth was a light covered fourgon which con- 
tained our personal luggage, and in this we 
resolved to travel up to Brussels. 

Having dined on mutton and fruit in a clean 
little inn near the station, at 7*30 p.m. we started, 
comfortably stretched out at the bottom of our 
fourgon, and covered up in rugs and coats. The 
night wore on, and we were suddenly aroused from 
our slumbers by feeling the movement of our wag- 
gon upon the truck, which latter was only a sand 
train. As we went along, the line became more 
and more uneven ; our van rolled several times 
backwards and forwards, and was kind enough 
also to sway from side to side in a most uncom- 
fortable manner. I crept out and found its 
moorings loose. The night was dark and misty, 
and we had no light, nor the means of getting 
one ; and, as the wheels of the fourgon were high, 
and the edges of the truck low, while the motion 
of the train was very rough, we thought it would 
be dangerous to try our hand at putting the 
concern straight. We discussed our chances of 
being pitched overboard ; but concluded that the 
risk was small, although the jolting and swaying 
from time to time vexed us not a little. However, 
at one in the morning, we found ourselves at 



I20 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. x. 

Namur, and were told we should have to stay 
there four hours. 

Accordingly, leaving men, horses, and wag- 
gons at the station, my friend and I strolled into 
the town. It was a beautiful moonlight night. 
After some wandering we saw a gleam in cne of 
the restaurants, and roused up the landlady, who 
kindly gave us some hot coffee and braised mutton. 
Thus fortified we settled down in a couple of arm- 
chairs, and slept for some hours. At half-past 
four we took our places again in the waggon ; but 
not until we had seen it firmly secured. 

We arrived in Brussels at lo a.m., having 
been en rou^ernore than fourteen hours. When we 
alighted we were in a sad plight, — sleepy, hungry, 
and disreputable-looking, bearing upon us all the 
marks of the hardships which we had gone through 
since entering on the campaign. Not many 
minutes after our arrival. Dr. Pratt came up, and 
expressed his satisfaction that orders had been 
carried out punctually. There was a conveyance 
waiting, he said, to take us to the Hotel de 
France ; and there we should find breakfast and 
comfortable quarters ready. 

After the wear and tear of the last couple of 
months, one may fancy our joy at this sudden 
return to the comforts, and even the luxuries, of 
civilised life. No longer the din of armed men 
on the march, or going to their exercises ; no 
longer sentries at every step ; no longer the 



CH. X. FRENCH AMBULANCE FAILS. 121 

Streets thronged with military ! Yet, the sight 
of an occasional French officer limping about on 
crutches, or with his arm in a sling, reminded 
us that the seat of war was not far distant. 
When breakfast was over, we turned in and slept 
until evening. Then, with some others of the 
staff, and certain friends of Dr. May's who had 
fled from Paris, we took a box at the Circus, and 
enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. 

Next day it was our business to report to 
Captain Brackenbury. After filling up forms, 
answering questions, and submitting to a deal of 
red tape, we were handed our pay up to date and 
a month in advance. 

Here we learned that the French Society, 
under whose patronage we had started from Paris, 
was now disorganised, and had stopped supplies. 
Not only were its funds exhausted, but its xA.mbu- 
lances had failed to render efficient service on the 
field of battle. Although we had now joined the 
English Society, and, in consequence, were as- 
sociated also with the Prussians, it was a graceful 
act on the part of the Vice-President of the 
French Association to make his acknowledgments, 
as he did, for the assistance which we had given to 
his countrymen in our Hospitals around Sedan. 

At noon on the 8th of October, we received 
orders to hold ourselves in readiness ; and great 
excitement arose when it was noised abroad that 
the Prussians had cut the line between Lille and 



122 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. x. 

Brussels. Thus, we might have to go round by 
London, in order to reach Paris. We ascer- 
tained, however, that the Hne had not yet been 
injured, ahhough the enemy had come into its 
immediate neighbourhood near the town of Lille. 

In the evening, therefore, we quitted Brussels 
by train, taking with us stores, waggons, and 
horses. The journey to Lille was a short one, 
and from thence we travelled by Douai and Arras 
to Amiens, where we halted for a few hours to 
eat and sleep until the next train set out for 
Rouen. At daybreak we resumed our expedi- 
tion, and as we entered Normandy the whole 
aspect of the country, which had been hitherto 
flat and monotonous, changed for the better. 
The red-brick houses, some tiled, some thatched, 
reminded me a little of villages I had remarked 
in my journey from London to Holyhead ; but 
here most of the houses had timber built into 
them, which made them more quaint and pictur- 
esque. , 



CHAPTER XI. 

AT ROUEN. — ON THE ROAD TO PARIS. — IN THE WOODS 
AMONG THE FRANCS-TIREURS. — TAKEN FOR SPIES. 
— A REFUGEE FENIAN. — TO MANTES. 

We arrived in Rouen at four o'clock in the after- 
noon of the 9th, and found the town full of Gardes 
Mobiles, who were marching about in civilian 
dress, but armed to the teeth. 

Our few hours of sight-seeing next day were 
not long in coming to an end ; but on going to the 
Railway Terminus, we heard that a telegram had 
just been received, saying that the Prussians had 
torn up the line to Paris, and we could travel no 
further. 

However, in a couple of hours, we succeeded 
in chartering an engine, — four waggons and a 
carriage — in which we determined to proceed as 
far as we could. Our advance, when we had 
started, was so slow and deliberate that we felt 
sure our conductors were only waiting to pull up 
at the first opportunity, and jump off the train as 
soon as they saw danger ahead. After going no 
faster than a horse could have trotted for two hours 
or so, we came to a dead stop at a little country 
(123) . 



124 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xi. 

village called St. Pierre. Beyond this point our 
guard and driver stoutly refused to carry us ; and, 
as it was now late, we thought well to stay there 
for the night. We occupied the village inn and a 
private house close by. As we had orders to start 
at daybreak, we were up betimes next morning. I 
went out as soon as it was light, and took a stroll 
through the village, in which many of the houses 
seemed to have been deserted. On inquiry, I 
found that, since the first intelligence, a few days 
back, that the Prussians were coming, the owners 
of these houses had packed up their moveables and 
gone north, leaving their dwellings to take care 
of themselves. The situation of St. Pierre, over- 
looking the Seine, was pretty enough. On the 
heights above stood its quaint little church, built 
of flint-stone, and as black as coal in appearance. 
I went inside, and saw that it was unadorned, but 
scrupulously clean. 

In another hour we were on our journey again, 
this time by road. We took the route Imperiale 
through the valley beside the river, and it would 
be difficult to do justice in description to the varied 
and picturesque scenes that came repeatedly into 
view, along the many miles which we pursued of 
its winding course. 

About midday we gained Gaillon, where we 
halted to refresh our horses and ourselves. Gail- 
lon is a large village, with a refreshing air of 
comfort and cleanliness about it, and has a broad 



CH. XI. A LAND OF ORCHARDS. I25 

central street, lined on each side with handsome 
trees. Having rested a couple of hours we pushed 
on for Vernon, which was, perhaps, some ten 
miles distant, — a long journey, during which we 
had to accommodate our pace to the jaded horses 
with their heavy-laden waggons. Our way took 
us through vast orchards, and, from an elevation 
at one part of the road, we could see nothing 
for miles round us but fruit trees. But as we 
were now in constant expectation of meeting the 
Prussian outposts, our Chief picked out Hayden 
and myself, being the lightest and keenest horse- 
men in the party, and sent us ahead, my friend to 
reconnoitre on one side of the road, and I upon the 
other. 

For a long while not a soul did we meet, and 
Dr. Pratt came to the conclusion that Vernon 
was unoccupied, whether by the French or the 
Prussians, as had been the case at St. Pierre. 
Believing that it was so, Hayden and myself re- 
ceived orders to push on thither, and report our 
approach at the Mairie, where we must secure the 
necessary accommodation during the night for all 
our party. 

With these commands we started, I on a mare 
of Dr. Pratt's, which we had got from the Prussians 
at Sedan, and Hayden upon a black belonging to 
Dr. May. As evening came on, it grew so 
dark that we could hardly see a few yards in 
front of us. On we went gaily for some miles. 



126 . WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xi. 

chatting unconcernedly on various topics, until 
our road entered a thick and gloomy wood, with 
high forest trees towering up on each side. The 
darkness was now such that we could not see one 
another. It was necessary to slacken rein, and 
let our horses go at a slow walk, lest they might 
leave the road and get us into unexpected trouble. 

My friend here remarked to me cheerfully 
what a helpless condition we were in, should any 
accident happen to us, or supposing we fell in with 
the French outposts. The words, which echoed 
through the woods (for he was speaking at the 
top of his voice, and it was a still night), had 
hardly passed his lips, when suddenly we heard, 
first a rustling, and then the sound of voices ; 
shouts were raised on every side of us ; and 
through the brushwood in all directions we could 
hear men crashing headlong towards the place 
where we stood entrapped. 

We held our ground, for to attempt escape 
was certain death. We should have received a 
volley before we had gone many yards. 

The challenge now came to us on all sides 
in French, ''Qui vive?'' We replied, ''Deux 
officiers de I' Ambulance Anglo- Am^ricaine'". 

They seemed not to be satisfied, and chal- 
lenged us twice, finally shouting, as if we were half 
a mile away, though but a few short paces from 
them, ''Advance, two officers of the Anglo- 
American ambulance, twenty paces, and halt ! " 



CH. XI. IN A CIRCLE OF BAYONETS. 12/ 

We had no time to obey, for, in a moment, we 
were surrounded by armed men. One seized my 
wrists and another my horse's rein. In a moment 
a lantern was produced, wherewith having ex- 
amined us and found that we were unarmed, they 
let go their hold, but roughly hustled us out of our 
saddles. 

We watched these men, whom we knew by 
their uniforms to be Francs-Tireurs, as they care- 
fully examined our horses by the light of their 
lanterns. All this time Hayden and I were kept 
apart, and, on my attempting to speak to him, I 
was told that if I did so, I should be shot straight- 
way. 

By a dim light, which some one held behind 
me, I discovered that I was standing in a circle of 
these irregulars with bayonets set. This was the 
less assuring that we had heard much of their 
lawlessness, and in what fashion they dealt with 
those who fell into their hands. I now made a 
motion towards the breast pocket of my tunic, to 
get my official papers, when a musket was pointed 
at me and I was told not to move. Having held 
a council of war over the horses, some of the men 
now came up and informed their comrades that 
they had at last caught two Prussian spies. For 
they had discovered, on my mare's flank, the 
Prussian brand, and, moreover, we spoke French 
with a German accent ; while our uniforms also 
were not French but Prussian. When they had 



128 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xi. 

come to this conclusion, I need hardly say that 
the treatment we received was not the most 
courteous. They cursed and swore at us, and 
flourished their bayonets about as if they had been 
walking-sticks. They marched us along separ- 
ately, often threatening that if we stirred or spoke, 
except by their direction, they would shoot us. 
Two of these brigands (for they were nothing 
else) marched behind me, two in front, and as 
many on each side with fixed bayonets, as if I 
were likely to overpower them unless guarded by 
the whole eight. Even when I put my hands 
into my trousers pockets, the flourish of a bayonet 
near my stomach (from a fellow whom I dis- 
covered to be more than half drunk) compelled 
me to take them out again. 

What distance we marched before arriving 
at Vernon we could not even guess, so much 
upset and, I must acknowledge, so daunted were 
we at the possible fate in store for us. We knew 
too well that these ruffians were capable at any 
moment of hanging us from the nearest tree. 
Indeed, before we entered the town, I came to 
the conclusion that several of the band were under 
the influence of drink. I believe there was quite 
as much risk of our being shot accidentally 
as on purpose. They appeared to have no 
officer among them ; nor could any of them, I 
suspect, so much as read or write. They would 
be admirable judges, therefore, all considered, of 



CH. XI. TAKEN PRISONERS. 1 29 

the difference in speaking French between the 
Prussian and any other foreign accent ! 

We must have tramped some three or four 
miles, when we got into the town ; and there it 
was an advantage to have even these drunken 
bulHes as our escort, for crowds gathered in the 
streets as we passed along, and taking us to be 
Prussian spies, stared and scowled fiercely — some 
even menacing us with clenched fists. Had 
not our captors guarded their prey jealously, I 
am confident that we should have had a rough 
handling from the populace. 

When we were taken into the principal 
barrack, I supposed that we should be allowed 
to see the officer of the guard, to whom we could 
show our papers, and then pass out. But 
nothing of the kind ; the officer of the guard- 
was not to be found. He had gone into town 
to dine with the Commandant of the place. We 
were put in the lock-up at the rear of the guard 
room, with two sentries over us. Our courage 
now returned, and we opened fire at the fellows 
on guard. Hayden, who spoke French fluently, 
gave them his mind concerning the Francs- 
Tireurs individually, and the whole French Army 
collectively, in such scathing language that they 
must have thought we were most certainly 
Prussians. I, not being of so excitable a temper 
as my friend, gave them to understand that such 
an exhibition of military ignorance and gaucherie 
9 



I30 WITH AN AMBULANCE. CH. xi. 

as we had witnessed that night would have been 
impossible anywhere but in France ; and I think 
with good reason. 

We had been in the lock-up for about an 
hour, when the officer of the guard appeared 
and examined our papers. These he forwarded 
to the Commandant Militaire, who inspected 
them once more, and immediately ordered our 
release. 

The Commandant came down himself to 
apologise for the manner in which we had been 
treated, and added the information that the Francs- 
Tireurs were canaille, who had neither military 
status nor any organisation. But he assured us, 
as we did not need telling, that it was a mercy 
we had not been shot by them. 

We were never in a thorough passion until 
now. My companion repeated his strong lan- 
guage, and shook his fist at this gentleman ; but 
he, measuring the situation like a true French- 
man, became very civil and declined the contest. 
After that, I begged him to overlook anything 
discourteous that had been said in the heat of 
provocation ; and our interview ended by his 
ordering two gendarmes to escort us to the 
Mairie. We had just time to secure the requisite 
quarters when our corps arrived. 

I need hardly say how concerned our friends 
were about this ugly incident, or how great was 
their satisfaction at our having escaped a fate 



CH. XI. AN EXILE OF ERIN. I31 

which had befallen others at the hands of this 
undisciplined but armed rabble. It is a matter of 
history that the Francs-Tireurs showed no respect 
even for the property of their own countrymen ; 
and we must not be surprised if they were relent- 
less towards any of the invaders whose ill luck 
it was to fall in with their companies. They 
reminded me a good deal of what I had read 
about Italian brigands, whom it is certain they 
resembled. And their very existence, in such 
a province as Normandy, was a striking proof 
that France had sunk into the utmost disorder. 
The Empire had perished; the Republic, estab- 
lished on the 4th September, was struggling 
feebly for its life. 

Another incident of a different nature, but of 
considerable interest to me, occurred next morn- 
ing, just as we were on the point of continuing 
our journey. 

I was standing outside my quarters ready to 
march, when I noticed a smart-looking, well- 
dressed young man, more like an American 
than a Frenchman, eyeing me at a little distance 
off 

There was something about him that 
excited my curiosity. As he approached rather 
timidly, I smiled, and said, to relieve his 
embarrassment, " You are not a Frenchman, I 
presume ? " upon which his hesitation disappeared, 
and, in unmistakable Tipperary accent, he ex- 



132 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xi. 

claimed, " No, indeed, Mr. Ryan. I'd make the 
queer Frenchman, born and reared as I was in 
the parish of Cullen, and educated near your 
father's place in the Street of Kilteely, by Mr. 
William Lundon." 

As the speaker had uttered all this in one 
breath, my amazement was considerable. Sud- 
denly, and under such circumstances, to meet a 
man at Vernon who came from the village of 
Kilteely, and was acquainted with me, gave me, 
so to call it, a shock ; and I stared at him for some 
seconds without speaking. The new-comer went 
on to inform me that his name was Timothy 
Nihil ; that he was an enforced exile from his 
native land ; and that, at the time of the Fenian 
rising in 1867, he had been the leader of that 
party which attacked and fired on the Glenbane 
Police Barracks, near Cullen. He was, in con- 
sequence, obliged to flee the country. He had 
come over to this place, and, being a man of 
some education and intelligence, had found a 
situation as Professor of English in the Pension 
of Vernon ; which appointment, he told me, was 
worth nearly ^100 a year to him. 

Timothy Nihil had been brought up in the 
National school ; and, indeed, went through his 
classics, as he had said, under Mr. William Lun- 
don, a teacher of great ability in his own line. To 
him, perhaps, it was owing that my Fenian had 
a very polished address. Poor fellow ! his face 



CH. XI. CAPTAIN F 'S LOYALTY. I33 

lighted up with pleasure when he spoke of ''the 
Old Country " ; and when, in answer to his in- 
quiries about different friends, I told him all I 
knew, he beamed with delight. Rebel though 
he had been, he was yet a fellow-countryman ; 
and as such I gave him the hand of friendship, 
and could not but sympathise with him in his 
exile. With tears in his eyes, he repeated that 
he could never go back to Ireland again. 

He was particular in asking about my brother 
John, for whom he had from his earliest youth 
a warm affection ; neither did he forget the Black 
and Tan hounds at home, in which I have already 
expressed my own interest. When he had 
walked out of the town with me a couple of miles 
we parted, after an earnest request that I would 
give his people news about him on my return, 
which I did very gladly. During our conversa- 
tion not a little amusement was caused among the 

party by an English officer. Captain F , of the 

Carbineers, who, when he heard that my new 
acquaintance had been a Fenian, became much 
excited, and was with difficulty kept from laying 
hands on Nihil. I explained, however, under 
what circumstances he had spoken to me, and the 
Captain cooled down. His strong feeling against 
these men was in itself not unreasonable, as he 
had been on active service in Ireland during the 
winter months of 1867, and had commanded a 
flying squadron there. 



134 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xi. 

During these four days of our journey to Paris, 
the weather continued very fine, and our walking 
tour through so pleasant a country was most en- 
joyable. Sometimes we chatted with the peasant 
folk who crossed our footsteps ; and I am bound 
to say that, in these districts, numbers of those 
with whom we talked were loud in praise both 
of the Emperor and the Empire. " Look," they 
often said, ''at our beautiful roads, — the route 
Imperiale, for instance, between Rouen and Paris 
— look at our towns and villages, with their magnifi- 
cently wooded streets, and their public buildings 
and monuments ; look at the fine bridges and 
aqueducts which you see all round ! Whom have 
we to thank for these things but the Emperor? 
Who has given work to the millions of the labour- 
ing class throughout France ? Who has made 
Paris one of the most beautiful cities of the world, 
and the Capital of Europe ? Who ruled France 
when she was the most rich and prosperous of 
nations, with a trade and commerce more extensive 
than ever before ? " Such were the facts on which 
these humble people became eloquent. Were 
they altogether in the wrong ? Let others 
decide. 

The country between Vernon and Mantes is 
very hilly, and some parts of the road were ren- 
dered almost impassable by the deep trenches 
which the French had cut across them to hinder 
the German progress. Strangely enough, al- 



CH. XI. CUTTING UP THE ROADS. 1 35 

though they went to such great trouble to destroy 
the road, they yet left a narrow causeway, over 
which a waggon might pass, with a few inches to 
spare. Afterwards, round about Orleans, I saw 
this business of making the roads difficult for the 
enemy, much more cunningly contrived, as I shall 
relate in its place. 



CHAPTER XII. 

A TOWN CAPTURED BY FIVE UHLANS. — MANTES TO 
VERSAILLES. — WE ARE ANNEXED BY THE GER- 
MANS. — GENERAL SHERIDAN AND NIGGER CHARLIE. 
— SOUTHERN EXILES. 

Our horses being fatigued from the long journeys 
and heavy roads, we made but slow progress. 
On coming to Mantes we put up for the night at 
the Hotel de France. This famous town is a 
wonder of cleanliness, with streets as tidy as they 
are kept in Holland, and not a disagreeable nook 
anywhere. Much consternation had been caused 
the day before, by five Uhlans coming into the 
market-place with a train of waggons, and carry- 
ing off all the corn and fodder they wanted for 
the troops about Versailles. After they had 
satisfied these demands, the Uhlans proceeded to 
set the station house on fire, as also to saw down 
the telegraph posts and cut the wires. "What 
pluck these five must have had ! " will be the 
reader's exclamation. '' Imagine such a force 
riding through a populous town and carrying away 
with them half the produce of the market, while 
the people looked on and never dreamt of molest- 
ing them ! " 

(136) 



CH. XII. THE SACRED RIGHTS OF PROPERTY. 1 37 

But the feat was not so daring, after all. 
Every one knew that, if the inhabitants had inter- 
fered with these Uhlans, the place would have 
been visited the day after, and reduced to ashes. 
Such was the punishment inflicted upon whole 
villages of innocent and peaceable inhabitants, 
sometimes in revenge of what had been done by 
a few individuals. I shall give, by-and-by, a pro- 
clamation which was posted up on the walls of 
Orleans, describing such an execution, and threat- 
ening to repeat the like under similar circum- 
stances. 

Here it was that Pratt, who was anxious to 
get a vehicle in which most of the medical staff 
could travel, produced an order which he had got 
from the Prussian authorities at Sedan, requiring 
the Mairie of any French town through which he 
passed, to provide him with whatever horses and 
vehicles he might need for the use of his corps. 
Hayden and I were sent to carry out this un- 
pleasant task. Armed with our peremptory 
document, we made a tour of discovery through 
Mantes, and, by throwing a couple of francs to a 
lad, were informed of a large, private, four-wheeled 
omnibus, — the very thing we wanted, — and a 
dashing, stoutly-built pair of greys that might 
draw it. The yard gate stood open, so in we 
walked, w4th the boldness of highw^aymen, and 
asked to see the owner. I knew by the servant's 
face that he suspected what w^as in the wind. He 



138 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xii. 

retreated without uttering a syllable ; but soon 
came back, followed by his master — a middle-aged 
man of gentlemanly appearance. He seemed very 
uneasy ; but, when we showed him our requisition, 
and told him that we had come to relieve him for 
a time of his carriage and pair of horses, his face 
wore an aspect of the blankest dismay. 

We, however, gave a sign to our own ostlers 
outside the gate, and directed them to harness the 
horses and put to, which they did with as great 
alacrity as if they had been Prussians, the owner 
looking on in sullen silence. But what were his 
feelings, when, twenty minutes after, he saw us 
driving his team through the gate and out of the 
town, I dare not guess. This carriage and pair, 
I may here subjoin, we used until the end of the 
war, when they were returned to the Mayor of 
Versailles, with a request that they might be given 
back to the original owner at Mantes, minus, 
however, one of the horses, which died from over- 
work and hardship. 

Thus it is, that, during times of war, the 
sacred rights of property are violated, and 
systematic robbery is held to be justifiable by 
those who can successfully practise it. In 
this instance the property was ultimately 
restored to its rightful owner ; but, in how many 
cases is that never done ? To be sure, the 
Government is supposed to indemnify any in- 
dividual who can produce the counterfoil of the 



CH. XII. A BURNT VILLAGE. 1 39 

requisition : yet it would be interesting to hear 
from such injured persons, the story of how much 
they asked and how Httle they got. 

We pushed on rapidly towards St. Germain, 
for Dr. Pratt was in haste to get there as soon 
as possible. Curious to relate, we had not thus 
far fallen in with a single German outpost ; neither 
did we, until our entrance into the Forest of St. 
Germain, when we were challenged, and had to 
give up our papers for inspection. A few miles 
outside that town we passed through the village 
of Mezieres, which had been burned to the 
ground a few days previously, and was now a 
smouldering heap of ruins. One burned village 
is like another, and I might have fancied myself 
in Bazeilles. Whole streets in the suburbs of St. 
Germain, through which we passed, had been 
plundered, and, in some cases, the soldiers had 
gone from house to house by means of holes, 
which they had picked through the partition walls. 
I rambled over a pile of such buildings, and cer- 
tainly the wanton destruction within them was 
astounding. The Germans, I must say, when not 
watched, are rare good hands at pillage ; but they 
were kept down by such rigid discipline, and so 
severely punished for every offence, how trivial 
soever, that they were, and are, I suppose (although 
not with their goodwill), the best conducted soldiers 
on active service in Europe. In the matter of dis- 
cipline, nothing appears to have been changed. 



I40 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xii. 

at least in the way of relaxation, among the 
Prussian rank and file, since the good old days 
of Frederick the Great and his eccentric and 
brutal father. 

Soon after leaving St. Germain we came 
upon the heights of Marly, just below the aque- 
duct. From this position we commanded that 
historic view which is too well known for me 
to think of describing it, even if I could. Be- 
neath us we observed the Palace of St. Cloud, 
destined in a few short hours to be a ruin ; and 
beyond, towering gloomily above it, the fort of 
Mont Valerien. Nor was the garrison of the 
latter idle, for it kept up a brisk cannonade in 
our direction, even as we were looking towards it. 

Presently we noticed a number of men de- 
scending beneath its guns. Evidently, something 
unusual was about to take place. Of this fact 
we were soon made certain by the shells dropping 
much nearer to us, some bursting" at the other 
side of the road beneath ;— which, for a moment, 
led us to imagine that the fort had mistaken us 
for an ammunition train. The shells came very 
close ; and the ladies who were with us felt, as 
was not unreasonable, a good deal of alarm. 

Just then two bodies of Bavarian cavalry and 
a regiment of infantry passed us in hot haste, 
doubling down the hill, along a by-road, to join 
other troops of the Line which were concealed 
in the woods beneath us, and under cover of 



CH. XII. EXCURSIONS AND ALARMS. I4I 

them were advancing. Directly to our left 
and below us, the Prussian batteries opened fire 
from their positions, which covered their cavalry 
and infantry on the right and left flank. For 
some time the booming and rattling were kept 
up vigorously, reminding us of the 31st August 
and I St September on a small scale. But in 
about an hour all was quiet again, and the French 
had retreated within their big fort. 

This was only one of numberless little 
skirmishes, which were constantly taking place 
between the besiegers and besieged, according 
as either made excursions in the country around 
them in quest of provisions, fodder, or fuel. 

Early in the afternoon we entered Versailles, 
and reported ourselves immediately to the Prussian 
General Commandant of the place. We estab- 
lished our headquarters at the Hotel des Re- 
servoirs, in the street of the same name. There 
Dr. Pratt and one or two others secured apart- 
ments, which was a troublesome business, for 
every room in the hotel seemed to be occupied 
by a Baron, a Prince, a Duke, or some high 
officer of King William's household. I have 
heard that in the Hotel des Reservoirs alone 
there were four or five such magnates, among 
them Prince Pless, and that Prince of Hohen- 
zollern whose candidature for the Crown of 
Spain was the pretext on which Louis Napoleon 
had declared war. This latter I used to see 



142 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xii. 

constantly about the Conciergerie of the hotel, — 
a gentlemanly, gay, and handsome youth, wear- 
ing the uniform of the White Hussars, and 
certainly the last man in the world one would 
picture to oneself as having originated this tre- 
mendous conflict. 

Staying at the same hotel were two American 
Generals of great, but unlike celebrity, — Sheridan, 
the famous cavalry hero, and Burnside, who lost 
the battle of Fredericksburg. They made most 
friendly advances towards the Americans of 
our Staff; but their attentions were received 
by the latter with the utmost indifference, as 
they might have anticipated ; for our men, with 
the exception of Hayden, were Southerners, 
and hated the ground these Yankees trod upon. 
Nigger Charlie, whom their efforts had made 
a freeman, gnashed his teeth at Sheridan 
when that General condescended to notice 
him. It was an honour of which the darkie 
felt by no means proud. I may here state 
that no one who has not lived for some time 
among a number of Southerners can realise how 
bitter was their hatred in those years towards the 
North. So great was it, indeed, that, when they 
could avoid it, they would not even eat at the 
same table, or have any social intercourse with 
them. I must add my suspicion that this was 
strictly true only in the case of men like my 
confreres, who had been large slave-owners and 



CH. XII. SOUTHERN HATRED OF YANKEES. I43 

landed proprietors ; and who, having been com- 
pletely ruined by the war, had gone into voluntary 
exile. On such as these the indulgent policy 
of the United States Government, after the 
ruin of the Southern cause, had no power to 
efface the memory of what they had lost. 
Wherever one travelled in Europe twenty years 
ago, one still found Southern exiles, as deeply 
imbued with hatred of the Yankee as if their 
subjugation had taken place only the day before. 
But that feeling was not likely to outlive them. 
And I am told that the gentlemen of Virginia 
and South Carolina have acquiesced now in the 
abolition of slavery, against which they fought so 
fiercely and to such little purpose, although we have 
just been witnessing the renewal of their efforts 
to disfranchise the coloured voters, and restore 
the local and State government to their own class. 
But I am wandering from my subject. As I 
have already said, our chief's private wish was, if 
possible, to get into Paris ; and, with this object 
in view, Dr. Pratt held a long consultation with 
Colonel Lloyd Lindsay, R.A., president of the 
English Society, from whom we now awaited 
our orders. He declared the project impossible, 
and placed our contingent at the service of Prince 
Pless, Inspector-General of the German Ambu- 
lance Corps, who told us that we were wanted 
very badly indeed at Orleans, where there had 
been some days' severe fighting, with great loss 



144 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xii. 

on both sides. The town was full of wounded, 
and the medical staff quite insufficient to take 
charge of them. 

Ostensibly, therefore, under the direction of 
Colonel Lloyd Lindsay and the English Society, 
but, as a matter of fact, under German orders, v/e 
had henceforth to carry on our mission. This 
change of control was disagreeable to us ; but 
there was no help for it. We had been at first 
exclusively in the service of the French, but were 
always international ; and we could not, in honour 
or conscience, refuse to enlist in the service of the 
Germans. As it had been rumoured about Ver- 
sailles that we wanted to get into Paris, there was 
felt a certain amount of suspicion regarding our 
neutrality ; and to have hesitated at this moment 
would have been fatal to our usefulness in the 
forthcoming campaigns. We made preparations 
to start as soon as might be. Colonel Lloyd 
Lindsay objected to our present Ambulance uni- 
forms, and thought them too French. The 
Francs-Tireurs who had captured us, it will not 
be forgotten, had taken them to be Prussian. At 
his suggestion, we were to wear the undress uni- 
form of the Royal Artillery while attached to the 
German Field Hospital Service ; and a supply was 
ordered immediately from London. We received 
them, and wore them until we left Orleans. Such 
were the circumstances under which our transfer 
from the French to the Germans was effected. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

THE PRUSSIAN HEADQUARTERS IN VERSAILLES. — A 
POLISH LADY. — THE BURNING OF ST. CLOUD. — 
GERMAN PRINCES.— BY ETAMPES AND THE 
BATTLEFIELD OF CHEVILLY TO ORLEANS. 

As Dr. Pratt had arrangements to make for our 
transit, and stores to lay in, and as our horses 
sorely required rest, our departure was delayed 
for two days, during" which I had ample oppor- 
tunity of seeing everything that was worth while 
at Versailles. My quarters were comfortable ; 
and I ought not to pass over the circumstances 
which enabled me to come by them. 

A Polish lady of great wealth, Madame 
Urbonouski, who lived in the Rue des Reservoirs, 
hearing that our Ambulance corps had entered 
Versailles, came out in person and accosted Dr. 
Mackellar ; telling him that it would give her 
much pleasure if he and two others of his com- 
panions would accept the use of her house and 
the hospitality of her table, whilst they were 
staying in the city. So generous an offer could 
not be refused. Mackellar, Hayden, and myself 
were only too well pleased to accept such agree- 
(145) 10 



146 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xiii. 

able lodgings. Our apartments were exquisitely 
furnished, and provided with all manner of 
luxuries, to which the sorry plight wherein we 
had come from Rouen hardly allowed us to do 
justice. Nothing could exceed Madame Urbon- 
ouski's kind attention during the couple of days 
that we lodged under her roof Provisions v/ere 
scarce and costly ; but that did not prevent her 
from giving us the best of everything to eat, and 
the choicest of wines at dinner. Before I left, 
my hostess, understanding that I was an Irish- 
man, and being well aware of the sympathies 
which have existed between her own nation and 
Ireland (countries alike in their religious history 
and ^their long disasters), insisted that, if ever I 
returned to Versailles, I should pay a fresh visit 
to the Rue des Reservoirs. I promised, and 
should have been glad to have kept my word. 
But I did not see Madame Urbonouski a second 
time, nor do I know if she is still living. 

On the day after our arrival every one was 
talking of the burning of St. Cloud,' which 
occurred the previous evening. It was the un- 
happy result of that fighting which we had 
witnessed, and, thanks to the shells from Mont 
Valerien, had as good as shared in, on the 13th. 
Next morning we visited the Chateau of Ver- 
sailles, and saw the picture galleries and the 
Chapel Royal. Here, too, the tokens of war 
made themselves conspicuous elsewhere than in 



VERSAILLES A HOSPITAL. 



147 



the smoky battle pieces which stared at us from 
the walls. All the galleries on the ground floor 
had been turned into a Hospital, and were filled 
with wounded Germans. And a first-class 

Hospital they made, — commodious and airy, the 
arrangement and general organisation as nearly 
perfect as possible. But on the well-tended grass 
plots in front of the Palace, I saw numbers of 
the King's horses exercised, where, but a short 
time previously, it had been almost a crime to set 
foot. 

I must not speak of the Grand and Litde 
Trianon, the trim walks, or the fountain which 
I beheld playing into the basin of Neptune. It 
was all new and delightful to a raw youth, whose 
reading of French history had been neither ex- 
tensive nor profound. Mackellar and I took a 
drive through the Park, out of Versailles, and 
enjoyed a distant view of Paris from certain 
heights whence now and then we could hear the 
booming of cannon as the forts discharged their 
thunder. On our homeward journey we met the 
old King driving in an open landau. He was 
accompanied by the German Chancellor. When 
I saw him another time, General von Moltke was 
in the carriage. Thus 1 had now set eyes on 
the man at Sedan who had lost one Empire, and 
on those who were destined, in the halls of Louis 
XIV., to set up another ere six months should 
have passed. 



148 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xiii. 

But, Indeed, it would seem that half the in- 
habitants of Versailles consisted of Princes, Dukes, 
Barons, and commanding officers. I counted 
nine of these notables at the Hotel des Reservoirs; 
yet some were such shabby-looking specimens 
of their class, that for the time they extinguished 
in me the respect which I had supposed myself 
to entertain for Royalty and its surroundings. 
A Prince, a Duke, or a General who walked about 
the streets munching alternately a piece of raw 
ham or sausage from one hand, and a junk of bread 
from the other, was not exactly one's idea of 
feudal, or even German dignity, and modern 
civilisation. Yet such were the manners of not 
a few whose high-sounding names read well in 
the " Gazette ". 

I have been offered a share of these rude 
repasts, and, famished as I might be at the time, 
my self-respect, nay, my very appetite, revolted ; 
and it was not without an effort that I was able 
politely to decline. The proverb runs, "A la 
guerre comme a la guerre ". I do not mean to 
imply that in a campaign the decencies of life 
can be always observed ; but there is such a 
thing as a gentlemanly bearing, and, out of that 
great assembly which boasted of the oldest 
German blood in its members, I saw few that 
came up to the standard which English officers 
are expected to fulfil, as they do with the rarest 
exception. 



CH. XIII. GERMAN PRINCES. I49 

I must confess that, when I looked at several 
of our attaches in the German Court, and con- 
trasted them with their perhaps more intellectual, 
and certainly more uncouth and burly, cousins 
from across the Rhine, and from the Mark of 
Brandenburg, I could not help feeling proud of 
that sister country which gave them birth. But, 
alas ! when we compare, not the officers and men 
individually, but the English army with the Ger- 
man, we can no longer boast : our methods of 
training, until lately, have been old-fashioned ; our 
military science lags behind ; and our neglect of 
the training, to which all young men in town and 
village might, with the greatest advantage, be 
submitted, is, I venture to think, no less short- 
sighted than imbecile. 

On the evening of the 15th, I saw 12,000 
men marched through Versailles. These were 
new levies from Germany, coming to reinforce the 
army of investment around Paris ; and a splendid 
body of men they looked. The general topic of 
conversation now was the fighting about Orleans, 
the taking of that town, and the defeat of the 
Army of the Loire, news of which had just reached 
us. Fresh combats in the neighbourhood were 
expected, and Dr. Pratt made all ready to start 
on the morrow. At Versailles it seemed to be 
the general opinion that Paris could not long hold 
out ; and, with its capitulation, the war must end. 

On the same night, we had orders to report 



I50 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xiii. 

ourselves next morning at headquarters, and to 
be ready to start at a moment's notice. 

October i6th was Sunday. I was up at cock- 
crow, heard Mass at the Grande Eglise, and bade 
good-bye to my amiable hostess. Our staff was 
assembled at headquarters, in the midst of the 
Princes, Barons, Dukes, and the rest whom I 
have already mentioned. When everything was 
ready, and the waggons and stores had got into 
line, those who had horses rode forward, while we 
others drove in the comfortable private omnibus 
we had — borrowed, I suppose, is the word, — at 
Mantes. Our departure created a little stir in the 
town. As for Prince Pless, he made himself 
agreeable to all of us, and was even so thoughtful 
as to give us a supply of cigars. 

Moving along in procession we made some- 
what of a display. From the foremost of our 
Ambulance waggons floated the flags of England 
and America on the breeze. Just as we arrived 
at the broad avenue in front of the Mairie, 
which is the way out of the town, a Prussian regi- 
ment passed us in full marching order. As they 
approached, we heard orders passed along among 
officers and under officers, in loud harsh tones, 
with the result that, as each Company went by, 
it presented arms, our chief and those who rode 
with him returning the salute. 

We were soon clear of Versailles and on the 
way to Longumeau, at which place, after a 



CH. XIII. PRUSSIAN PUNCTILIO. 151 

pleasant journey, we arrived towards evening, 
and secured quarters for the night. Before we 
were in the town very long, it appeared that our 
arrival had created a commotion among the 
Prussian authorities, who had no knowledge as to 
what we were, and whither we were going. On 
these points several of us were questioned re- 
peatedly by the German officers. This was the 
case. Our chief, finding Longumeau such a 
trifling village, did not think it necessary to report 
himself to the Commandant. That such was not 
this dignitary's opinion we soon discovered by his 
coming down to the hotel where we had put up, 
and storming in most vociferous and unparlia- 
mentary language at all and sundry, but especially 
at Dr. Pratt, for not reporting to him as soon as 
we were in his jurisdiction. 

However, the matter was made straight by 
the production of the Doctor's credentials, signed 
by the authorities at Versailles, upon which our 
boisterous little friend, who wore a uniform of 
rusty gold lace, fell into a surly silence. Before 
it became dusk, I went out with Dr. May to buy 
such odds and ends of eatables as might eke out 
what was provided for dinner. We went into a 
store, which was crowded with German soldiers. 
While I was waiting to be served, I watched the 
different purchases that were being made. One 
of our Teutons was buying butter, old and rank, 
another lard, another candles, another fat pork or 



152 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xiii. 

bacon. All were investing their groschen and small 
change in something or other greasy. One of these 
fellows took a piece of butter in his fingers, weigh- 
ing about half a pound, and then asked the price 
of it ; but while the poor French shopkeeper was 
looking in another direction, the hero slipped out 
and decamped to his quarters. I felt inclined to 
follow him up, but judged it wiser to control my 
indignation, as I had to do many a time before and 
afterwards. Within an hour from our arrival, the 
towns-people learned on what errand we were 
going, and became, in consequence, most polite 
and communicative. One of the most respectable 
among the bourgeois went so far as to ask us 
into his house to tea and supper. 

Some four of us accepted the invitation. We 
slipped across the street, after dark, to our good 
friend's abode, and spent a pleasant evening over 
an excellent cup of coffee, with fair bread and 
butter. No one, who has not served during a 
campaign, can conceive how impossible, it is to 
get anything like a comfortable meal, or to pro- 
cure good and eatable bread, not to mention good 
butter, which was a rarity indeed. And I am 
afraid the same must be said of beef and mutton, 
— in fact, of all the ordinary articles of consump- 
tion. 

Next morning we made an early start. Our 
road still lay through a finely wooded country, 
each side lined with cherry, apple, and pear trees, 



CH. XIII. CHURCHES TURNED INTO STABLES. 1 53 

to the fruit of which we helped ourselves abun- 
dantly. The weather continued open. And, as 
before, we had to keep a sharp look-out for the 
Francs-Tireurs, rumours of whose wanton doings 
were rife amongst the peasants, who bore them a 
cordial hatred. 

About midday, we arrived at the little town of 
Arpajon, where we made cur luncheon. What 
struck us, in passing through the hamlets and 
villages on our route, was the utterly deserted and 
forlorn aspect of their houses, streets, and public 
places. The country seemed to have become a 
wilderness, so far as inhabitants were con- 
cerned. 

Early in the afternoon we reached Etampes, a 
clean little town, with wide boulevards, and a 
prettily planted square. Curious to tell, we did 
not find a single German in occupation, and had 
no difficulty in getting quarters. I took a stroll 
through the town with Mackellar and Warren. 
The first building which drew our attention was the 
parish church, standing in the principal street, and 
not inelegant. We entered, expecting to see 
everything in that state of gaudy neatness which 
is characteristic of French country churches ; but 
what was our horror to find the air laden with a 
foul odour, and the floors of the aisle and transept 
littered with straw ! It was evident that a troop 
of cavalry horses had been quartered here, some 
having been tied to the benches, which supplied 



154 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xiii. 

the place of mangers, and others secured to the 
raiHngs of the side-chapel. 

It was also plain that the stalls in the Sanctu- 
ary had been used in like manner, judging from 
the amount of stable debris that lay about on all 
sides ; many of the benches, too, had been broken 
up, and fires lighted with them in different parts 
of the church. The steps and the altar showed 
signs of having been used for the purposes of 
eating and sleeping upon them. At the foot of 
the altar, which was flashy and splendid, lay upon 
straw a ham bone picked clean. All this was 
very revolting. Hitherto, we had indeed seen 
the churches in and around Sedan and Versailles 
turned into hospitals ; but no one will describe 
that as an improper use of them. It was quite 
another thing to make of the Sanctuary a noisome 
den. 

On quitting the desecrated church, we crossed 
the railway to the old Chateau, which stands on 
the hill above Etampes. It is a place of historic 
associations, but the Prussians had ransacked it, 
and all was confusion within. When we came 
back it was reported to our chief that the mayor 
had made some objection about giving fodder to 
our horses ; so that my friend Hayden was forth- 
with deputed to call on him and put the matter 
straight. To him the mayor abruptly reiterated 
his objection, little knowing the character of the 
man whom he had to deal with. Hayden resorted 



CH. XIII. MARCHING OVER THE BATTLEFIELD. 1 55 

to his Store of strong terms, and warned him, 
with the audacity of a Yankee, that if the pro- 
vender was not forthcoming and sent in before 
night, he would have his worship pubhcly hanged 
next morning from one of the trees In his own 
garden. Panic-stricken at the energy with which 
Hayden announced his doom upon the morrow, 
the poor man, without more ado, gave orders 
to have the fodder and corn dehvered at once, 
which was accordingly done. 

There was something not a little daring in 
this procedure of Hayden's, though nothing, 
perhaps, really courageous ; for M. le Maire had 
no soldiers, and not so much as a gendarme in 
the town at his command. Hence his instan- 
taneous surrender. We had a great laugh over 
the w^hole affair. 

Next morning we resumed our march, and 
pushed on briskly, for we now heard, from two 
Ambulance couriers who came against us, that 
fighting was going on about Orleans, and that 
our services were much needed in that town. 

As the day advanced, we could distinctly 
hear the ceaseless booming of cannon many 
miles ahead. Towards evening, when we had 
passed by Artenay, we found the road and the 
plain on both sides covered with the debris of a 
battle. Numbers of torn uniforms, knapsacks, 
arms, accoutrements, dead horses, and newly-made 
graves, — all were tokens that the neighbourhood 



156 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xiii. 

had lately seen severe fighting. An unexploded 
shell lay beside the road, but we avoided touch- 
ing it. Many of the trees were severed midway 
up their trunks, and nearly all had small branches 
broken here and there, showing that the fighting 
was not confined to artillery. Some of the tree 
trunks were grooved in a most curious manner, 
evidently by shell or shot. 

During the whole of this day, i8th October, 
we pushed on as fast as we could, arriving late 
at the village of Chevilly. We heard from the 
Mayor, who kindly gave us quarters for the night, 
that a fierce and bloody battle had been fought 
both in and around the village during the previous 
week. His little flower-garden had been the 
scene of an infantry charge ; and I marked by 
the trampled and uprooted plants, and the scat- 
tered earth, the very spot where several deadly 
struggles had taken place. The ^^round was fur- 
rowed, and the branches of the trees broken by 
bombshells. Our hostess, who had retreated with 
her husband into a cellar during the fighting, 
gave me a vivid description of the affair. The 
whole village was a heap of ruins. But 1 shall 
remember the poor lady and her kind husband, 
who gave us so hospitable a welcome, despite 
the agitation which their late experience and the 
spoiling of their dwelling place had caused them. 

It was a problem what would become of the 
inhabitants in these country districts, where the 



CH. XIII. FLIGHT OF THE INHABITANTS. 1 57 

Prussians (as my host and hostess informed me) 
had eaten up their meat, bread, and vegetables, 
had carried off their cattle, their hay, straw and 
corn, and in many instances had finished up, when 
they thought the people had balked them of 
supplies, by burning the houses over the heads 
of the Frenchmen. Such things, we were as- 
sured, had come to pass round Orleans. On 
several occasions since leaving Longumeau, we 
had encountered waggon-loads of women and 
children, who told us piteous tales how their 
houses had been destroyed, and themselves 
obliged to fly ; and, perhaps, the saddest part of 
their story was, that when we asked whither they 
were going, they seemed, in some instances, not 
to have the faintest idea. They were wanderers 
on the tace of the earth, and dazed by the cal- 
amities which had fallen on them so unex- 
pectedly. 

We left Chevilly for Orleans on the morning 
of the 19th. Our road still lay through the heart 
of the battlefield ; and innumerable horses, knap- 
sacks, broken muskets, and military trappings of 
all sorts, were lying about on every side. The 
frequent graves told their own monotonous tale. 
It had become a strange and painful journey ; 
but our adventures were not yet over. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

ENTERING TO THE SOUND OF CANNON.— 66 QUAI 
DU CH^TELET ASSIGNED TO US, ALSO THE 
RAILWAY TERMINUS. — DESCRIPTION OF OUR NEW 
QUARTERS. 

About midday we entered Orleans by the 
Faubourg Bannier. All this time the cannon 
had been actively engaged at the other side of 
the town in the direction of Chateaudun, and, 
as we passed in, we met several companies 
of German regiments marching along some by- 
roads towards the quarter whence the sound of 
tiring came, doubtless with the intention of joining 
in the fray, Orleans had fallen into the hands of 
the Bavarians ; but at present the garrison 
was small, for all the available troops had been 
sent to the front, where they were now pursuing 
the Army of the Loire in its retreat upon Tours. 
In passing through the Faubourg Bannier, we 
saw convincing proofs of a severe and very recent 
conflict. Whole lines of houses were burned to 
the ground, while others had been partially 
demolished by shell, or had their doors and 
windows riddled. Many of the doors bore marks 
of having been broken through by the crowbar, 
(158) 



CH. XIV. MILITARY ETIQUETTE. 1 59 

or the hatchet of the sapper. In the streets 
the Htter of the bloody battle which had been 
fought in the previous week, lay scattered about ; 
and, judging from appearances, the street fighting 
must have been a very hot affair indeed. 

We reported ourselves at once to the Com- 
mandant ; for I need hardly say, that during the 
time of war, this is the first thing to be done by 
every sort of men entering a town, be they Regi- 
ment, Ambulance Corps, Couriers, or any persons 
whatsoever. Even a stranger whose business is 
not well known is at once taken by the Military 
Police before the General Commandant, and 
required to give a full account of himself; which 
if he cannot do to that officer's satisfaction, he is 
placed under police supervision, and compelled to 
report himself every morning at headquarters. 
This regulation I mention, because a certain 
auxiliary member of our staff was compelled to 
do the like, on account of his speaking un- 
guardedly of the position of the forces to some 
of the townsfolk. 

Our Ambulance train came to a standstill in 
the Place Bannier, while Dr. Pratt was making 
his report, and getting our quarters assigned to 
us. In the centre of the Place stood a large 
drinking fountain, around which were congre- 
gated a troop of horses, jostling each other in 
their anxiety to get at the water. They ap- 
peared so fatigued, that I judged they must have 



l6o WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xiv. 

returned quite lately from the field. While our 
Ambulance was awaiting the return of Dr. Pratt, 
Mackellar and I strolled round leisurely. The 
excitement of the people was at this period re- 
markable ; for they imagined that, in spite of all 
their recent reverses, the Army of the Loire, 
which was still fighting at a short distance outside 
the city, would beat the Germans back, and again 
occupy the place. 

Hundreds of men, women, and children flocked 
about the bridge of the Loire, and kept a steady 
look-out down the river, in the direction of the 
fighting. But their expression was that of scared 
sheep; and when we ventured to ask one intelli- 
gent-looking young fellow why he was not fight- 
ing, and driving the invader from his country, 
he answered, "Sir, we have no arms, and no 
leaders". It was manifest that they did not 
think, as others in the like circumstances have 
done, of improvising either. 

The beautiful statue of Jeanne d'Arc, which 
seemed to be gazing on the battle from afar, 
had been entwined with wreaths and garlands, 
placed there by townsfolk who desired thus to 
win her prayers for the success of their army. 

Soon after, we were informed that Nos. 66 
and 68 Quai du Chatelet, on the bank of the 
Loire, had been allotted to us as our quarters. 
On arriving there we found two very spacious and 
elegant houses, commanding a beautiful view of 



CH. XIV. HOW WE SECURED OUR HOSPITAL. l6l 

the city opposite, as well as of the river, and the 
two famous bridges, which are among the finest 
monuments of the Imperial rule. Up to this date, 
the larger of the two houses, No. 66, had been 
unoccupied; and the owner, probably not knowing 
that we had a billet from the Commandant, was 
at first unwilling to let us take up the whole 
house. He showed a sullen countenance, and 
was proceeding to lock up his best suite of apart- 
ments, when our chief informed him quietly that 
if he gave any further trouble, and did not at once 
surrender the keys of every door in the house, 
he. Dr. Pratt, would convert the whole of his 
charming mansion into a hospital, and make an 
operation theatre of his drawing-room. This was 
a stern, but necessary, warning, which cleared up 
the situation. Monsieur yielded to force 7najeure 
thus vigorously threatened, and ever after behaved 
towards us with the civility which in the French 
nature is inherent, and which our mission at 
Orleans might fairly be said to demand. 

Our chief had many interviews with the 
authorities on the two days succeeding our arrival. 
The question was, whether we should take on our- 
selves only the duties of a stationary Hospital, 
or follow in the track of the army. A middle 
course was fixed upon. We were to have a 
Hospital in town, and, when required, were to 
take the field with the German Ambulance Corps. 
Our services were gladly accepted by the Surgeon- 



1 62 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xiv. 

General, and two large Hospitals were at once 
handed over to us ; the first — a sick and fever 
Hospital — containing 150 men; the second, con- 
sisting of the railway terminus, with its waiting 
and refreshment rooms, stores and offices, in 
which lay 65 wounded; and there were beds 
to accommodate 150 more. We received, 
therewith. Hospital plant, and a staff of trained 
military infirmarians. We were also given a 
liberal supply of provisions, which were dealt out 
to us and our wounded by requisition. On the 
morning of the 21st, Surgeon-General Dr. Von 
Nussbaum was present at the chemin de fer 
d'Orleans to make us acquainted with the former 
staff, who were now handing over their charge to 
us. Our installation was a very formal proceed- 
ing. The German Guard turned out, and saluted 
as we passed in. 

This was the beginning of our labours at 
Orleans. As I have stated, it was at the railway 
terminus, which had been converted into a Hos- 
pital by the Prussians the day after they took 
possession of the town. 

Entering from the Place in front of the 
station into the principal waiting-room, we passed 
through two lines of soldiers, drawn up at atten- 
tion, and out on the platform. There were no 
carriages within the precincts of the terminus, 
but some dreary-looking trucks might be seen 
scattered about on the sidings, and, except a few 



CH. XIV. THE ORLEANS STATION. 163 

men on guard at the coal depot, there was not a 
human being within sight. 

The terminus was covered, and of great extent. 
All the buildings connected with it were spacious, 
and fitted up in the ordinary way. We made 
ourselves at home immediately in the first-class 
waiting-room. Its sofas were placed back to back 
in the centre ; and there were lines of beds at each 
side, every bed occupied by a wounded man. The 
second- and third-class salles cTattente were ar- 
ranged in like manner, and as full as they could 
hold. 

The next room was the Bureau des Inspecteurs, 
or the office of the railway directors. Here also 
there was a single row of wounded. 

In the buffet there were doable rows, and, as 
it was very spacious, the numbers it accommodated 
were proportionately great. In the ticket office 
were kept all the medical and surgical stores and 
requisites. In the telegraph office was the 
operation theatre, and in the station-master's 
private bureau the instruments to serve it were 
kept ; there the surgeon on night duty remained 
during the period of his watch. In this room 
there was always a good fire, and outside the 
door paced up and down a German sentinel on 
guard. 

At the other side of the platform, approached 
by the level crossing, we found the goods depart- 
ment, and the carriage, waggon, and engine 



164 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xiv. 

depot, which latter, in its general appearance, 
was nothing more or less than an immense shed, 
with open archways at both ends. In this most 
airy apartment lay, also, numbers of wounded. 

When we pointed to several large holes in 
the roof (which had been made by falling shells 
a few days previously), and then to the open 
archways, suggesting to our friends that they 
were, perhaps, a degree too airy to be beneficial, 
Prof. Nussbaum informed us that the wounded 
in this place got better more rapidly than those 
in the Salles, who were kept warm, and com- 
pletely protected from the weather. 

We remained there nearly two hours, seeing 
the more interesting cases dressed, and then 
looked on at an operation by Nussbaum. As 
several of the parcel and lamp offices were also 
occupied by wounded, it may be conceived that 
the whole mass of buildings around the platforms 
made a very extensive hospital. It was a curious 
and novel sight, and for a long time afterwards 
I never entered a large terminus of the kind 
without speculating on the numbers of wounded 
that it would accommodate. 

We were received very kindly by our German 
friends ; and before evening were in charge of 
the whole place, having an efficient staff of 
nurses to assist us, and to look after the wants 
of our invalids. 

As we had now enjoyed a considerable ex- 



CH. XIV. WE DO NOT TAKE THE BARRACKS. 1 65 

perience In the working of a military field-hospital, 
it took us but a few hours to get Into the routine ; 
and the Germans were evidently pleased at seeing 
how briskly we fell into line, and took up from 
them the whole management. 

With regard to the Barrack across the river, 
which was full of sick and fever patients, It had 
been, I say, assigned to us ; but we never actu- 
ally took It over. The German surgeons who 
were in charge had to join their field-hospital, 
which was about to move in the track of the 
army. Nor did the Bavarians possess any 
medical reserve In Orleans at this time, so that 
we came to their assistance at a juncture when 
we were much needed ; and they showed them- 
selves extremely grateful. When, however, they 
were on the point of delivering up the second 
hospital to us, their orders to move were re- 
scinded ; and we were saved, thereby, an amount 
of labour and responsibility, to which our limited 
staff would have been altogether unequal. 



CHAPTER XV. 

ASSISTANT SURGEON. — IMPRESSIONS OF THE GERMAN 
CHARACTER. — THE ARMY AND ITS DISCIPLINE.— 
STATE OF SIEGE. — VON DER TANN'S PROCLAMA- 
TION. — LEOPOLD SCHRENK. 

I WAS now promoted to be Assistant Surgeon by 
our chief, and was given charge of seventeen 
patients, under Dr. Mackellar. As much of the 
doctor's time was employed in registering and 
taking notes of the cases in Hospital, except when 
he performed operations, I was virtually in sole 
charge of my section, though under his super- 
vision. 

We breakfasted at 7*30, dined at 12 '30, and 
supped at 6 '30 ; all our meals were abundantly 
furnished at our quarters in the Quai du Chatelet. 

With such hard work in hand, there was cer- 
tainly need of substantial food, or we could never 
have got through it. Every day brought us fresh 
batches of wounded, and with them news of fresh 
encounters, and skirmishes in the field. 

On 23rd October, I had to perform my first 
amputation. It was the removal of a portion of a 
foot, which had been crushed by a waggon wheel. 
(166) 



CH. XV. AN OVERDOSE OF CHLOROFORM. 167 

The patient, I should explain, lay in a private 
house, at the rear of the Quai du Chatelet. Dr. 
Mackellar, who had kindly given me the opera- 
tion, and Jean the Turco, assisted me. But when 
I had made the first incision, Jean bolted out of 
the room, and then tumbled downstairs in a faint. 

I went on with my task ; but no sooner was it 
completed, than we were both taken aback on 
finding that my subject had been given an over- 
dose of chloroform : his face was livid ; and it 
seemed that he had already ceased to breathe. 
In a moment, we flung the windows and door 
open, and were slapping him with cold wet towels, 
and using artificial respiration. 

To my great relief, in a few seconds the poor 
man breathed freely again, and before long came 
back to himself He made a very prompt re- 
covery ; was convalescent, and able to hobble 
about on crutches in a fortnight, and had still a 
useful limb. 

My patients increased daily, until from seven- 
teen they became double that number. And at 
this time it was my duty to stay up every fifth 
night. 

Three or four days now passed away in con- 
stant hard work, part of which consisted in re- 
arranging and cleaning up the whole Hospital, 
which our predecessors had left in anything but 
an orderly state. 

Later on, when I had time to go out, I saw 



l68 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xv. 

numbers of the Bavarian troops returning from 
the recent fighting, — dirty, foot-sore, and jaded ; 
they reminded me, in fact, more of French than 
of German soldiers. The campaign seemed to 
be taking an unfavourable turn for them. Oc- 
casionally, in the evening, the bands played in the 
Place Martroi, where the German officers and 
men were wont to assemble to smoke and chat. 
This was one of their customs at home which 
they had imported into France ; and by no means 
a disagreeable one. I heartily enjoyed the 
musical treat which they gave ; but I liked still 
better to listen while whole companies were 
singing glees in perfect harmony, during their 
bivouac under the trees on the Boulevards. 
There we saw them awaiting the assignment of 
their quarters with stolid patience, and cooking 
their food in cauldrons over wood fires, all to 
this delightful accompaniment, which showed 
them at their best. 

All the German soldiers had a knowledge of 
music, and more than half were fairly well trained 
to sing. Nearly all the Infantry regiments in 
Orleans at this time were Bavarians ; but several 
detachments of the Prussian Cavalry regiments 
were likewise quartered in the town. I could 
never have imagined such a variety of uniforms 
and colours as I have seen among the hosts of 
the Emperor William. Let me recall a few of 
them. 



CH. XV. THE TRAPPINGS OF WAR. 1 69 

There were Bismarck's Cuirassiers, In scarlet 
and gold ; a gorgeous uniform, the undress of 
which (pure white) Is, I think, no less becoming. 
Then there were the Black Brunswickers, whose 
uniform is like that worn by the Royal Irish 
Constabulary, but who wear on their shakos an 
emblem representing a death's head and cross 
bones. Again, besides the dark blue with red 
facings of the Prussian Infantry, and the Bava- 
rian light blue with green facings, I could count 
up Hussars of all colours, red, black, and white, 
light blue, dark blue and gold, and the Wiirtem- 
burg green. The German soldiers are certainly 
a magnificent body of men ; and, although at the 
bottom of my heart my sympathies and affections 
are altogether with the French, despite their 
shortcomings, I am bound to declare the superi- 
ority of their adversaries, as men of fine physique 
and manly bearing, and of cool undaunted courage ; 
and I need not repeat how admirable Is the 
discipline under which they have been brought 
to such perfection. 

In 1870, the French did not realise that they 
had to deal with an army the rank and file of 
which not only was composed of the muscle and 
sinew of the German people, but included their 
best brains also. Perhaps the more observant of 
the French writers, such as the late M. Renan, 
or George Sand, might have summed up the war 
as a contest of science against civilisation. Cer- 



I/O WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xv. 

tain it is, that the highly wrought intelHgence of 
the invaders was a force against which the Re- 
public and the Empire alike contended in vain. 
The general run of soldiers from beyond the 
Rhine were well educated, and few, indeed, were 
unable to read and write. Those few might be 
found among the Bavarians — in my judgment, a 
slow, dull race, yet accustomed to fight in a 
dogged fashion, who neither went into action 
with the dash and ardour, nor ran away with the 
alacrity, of Frenchmen. Their movements were 
on system, and according to rule : they fought 
because they were bidden to fight, and mowed 
down the enemy, not from hatred of them, but 
because such were their orders ; and, if they did 
not take to flight, it was in the same spirit of 
passive obedience. 

I should give the result of my impressions, 
therefore, somewhat as follows : Take no notice 
of a German soldier, and do not molest or inter- 
fere with him, especially when he is carrying out 
the orders of his superiors, and he will be as 
harmless as a child, and as easily pleased. But 
if, on the other hand, you do meddle with him, 
and stir up his rage on any pretext, his revenge 
will be no less prompt than terrible. In the battle- 
field, when once he is excited, he will use his 
bayonet and musket as a Zulu his assegai, or an 
Indian his tomahawk. 

As for his manners, they are, at the best of 



CH. XV. GERMAN MANNERS. 171 

times, uncouth, not to say detestable, and when 
at meals, disgusting. He is an enormous eater, 
caring not so much about the quality of what he 
devours, so long as quantity is provided ; and 
though he drinks an amount of beer that would 
make any other European helplessly intoxicated, 
he is seldom drunk. Nothing irritates him like 
hunger and thirst ; in which circumstance he 
furnishes the most unpleasing contrast to a 
French soldier, — always patient, and commonly 
cheerful under such privations. When suffering 
in this way, physically (which seldom occurred 
under the admirable organisation of the German 
commissariat), he would pillage and plunder all 
before him to get food or beer. For such de- 
predations, when caught, he was mercilessly 
punished. /\nd the German soldier submits 
impassively to this treatment at the hands of his 
officer, as if he were a dog, without seeming to 
resent it. I have seen officers and their subalterns 
on the quays of Orleans strike their men re- 
peatedly, and on parade drill make their recruits 
dress in line, with the fiat of their broad-swords, 
— a disgraceful procedure, to which neither an 
English nor a French lad would submit. All 
these features of the German system, as brutal 
as it has proved effective, I observed, long after 
I had seen them at Orleans, in the vivacious and 
sparkling pages of Barry Lyndon. So little does 
the world change in a hundred and thirty years ! 



1/2 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xv. 

For some days no one but the military had 
appeared in the streets. All the shop windows 
in the town were closed, all business suspended ; 
and the place, in these circumstances, had 
anything but a lively aspect. The Commandant, 
however, issued an order to all shopkeepers, 
obliging them, under pain of severe punishment, 
to take down their shutters, and open their 
establishments. In accordance with this regula- 
tion, on a certain day, before the appointed hour, 
down came all the shutters ; but the display of 
goods in the windows amused me very much. 
In one, exhibiting a frontage of perhaps twenty 
feet or more, where silks, satins, and the most 
costly stuffs were usually spread out, now ap- 
peared in a tasteful arrangement several pieces 
of glazed calico, which were, it seemed, the only 
goods one could purchase in that establishment. 
Another equally large shop in the Rue Royale, a 
hardware house, exhibited as its stock in trade 
some dozen or so of rusty kettles, saucepans, and 
gridirons. In like manner did nearly all the 
other shopkeepers. 

The pastrycooks, however, drove a roaring 
trade ; their counters were crowded at all hours 
of the day with the conquering heroes, for Ger- 
mans eat sweetmeats and confectionery as a cow 
munches young clover in the month of May. 
But the owners of these establishments v/ere not 
at all particular as to the quality of the articles 



CH. XV. A STATE OF SIEGE. 1/3 

they provided. I once walked into such a place, 
and was about to eat of some tempting-looking 
things in the way of tarts, when the man behind 
the counter recognised me, for we were acquaint- 
ances, and whispered that he would give me in 
a moment something more agreeable, instead of 
those greasy things, pointing to what was before 
him, which were made only for Prussians. I 
ought to remark on the characteristic way in 
which Frenchmen, who are the most ignorant 
people in the world with regard to foreigners and 
their languages, called every stranger a Prussian, 
no matter of what nation he might be. 

Meanwhile Orleans continued in a state of 
siege, and strict watch was kept on every one 
who moved about during the daytime. After 
dark no one could walk abroad without being 
liable to be shot down by the sentries, who were 
placed at every hundred yards along the streets, 
unless he carried a lighted lantern. I took great 
pleasure in listening to the bugles sounding the 
order for citizens to retire indoors at nine o'clock. 
Standing four abreast at the top of each street, 
the musicians sounded their call, which was a 
most plaintive and melodious strain. 

Before going on with my narrative, I ought 
not to omit the curious proclamation, still on the 
walls of Orleans, which the Bavarian General, 
Von der Tann, had put forth after his capture of 
the city, October 13. It ran as follows: — 



174 WITH AN AMBULANCE. 



French Citizens ! 



" As I desire, so much as in me lies, to allevi- 
ate the burden of the population now suffering 
from the evils of war, I appeal to your good sense, 
and trust that the sincerity with which I address 
you will open your eyes to the real state of 
affairs ; and will persuade you to take your stand 
with the party of reason and peace. 

" Your late Government declared w^ar against 
Germany. Never was there a declaration more 
frivolous. Nor could the German armies do 
otherwise than reply by passing the frontier. 

" They won victory after victory ; and your 
own army, deluded upon system, and demoralised, 
was all but annihilated. 

" Another Government has arisen. We 
hoped that it would make peace. It has done no 
such thing. And why ? Because it feared for 
its own existence ; and, pretending that the 
German conditions were impossible, it has chosen 
to continue a war, the outcome of which cannot 
fail to be the ruin of France. 

" Now, what are the conditions which they 
call impossible ? 

'' They are the restoration of those provinces 
that belonged to Germany, and in which the 
German language still prevails in town and 
country ; in other words, of Alsace and the Ger- 
man Lorraine. 



CH. XV. VON DER tank's OLIVE-BRANCH. 1/5 

''Is this proposal too much? 

"What conditions would a victorious France 
have exacted ? 

"You have been told that the purpose of the 
German armies is to degrade France. That is 
simply a falsehood, invented to stir up and excite 
the masses. 

" On the contrary, it is your Government 
which, by its conduct, is forcibly drawing on the 
German battalions into the heart of the country, 
and is leading up to the ruin which it will accom- 
plish if it persists in itself degrading that fair 
France, which might have proved to be the 
warmest friend of the nation it has driven into 
hostilities. 

''Orleans, 13th Oct., 1870. 

'' Baron de Tann, 

" General of Infantry." 

The olive-branch of this good General of Infan- 
try, held out at the point of the sword to a people 
than whom a more touchy or sensitive does not 
exist, was hardly intended to produce an effect. 
Orleans was eagerly waiting all through that 
month and down to the loth November, in the 
feverish expectation of succour from without, 
which would rid them of M. de Tann and his 
proclamations. 

But day passed after day, until the monotony 
of our routine was broken by the astounding 



1/6 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xv. 

news, long foreseen, yet, when it came, over- 
powering, of the capitulation of Metz, with Baz- 
aine, 3 Marshals, 66 Generals, 3000 cannon, and 
173,000 men. It was the greatest surrender in 
history, — perhaps, the most flagrant act of treason. 

Accounts given by the wounded stragglers, 
whom we daily received into our Hospital, told 
us that a desultory warfare, but no regular fight- 
ing, was going on between the opposing armies 
in our front. On one day, about November 3, 
two Bavarians were admitted, rather severely 
wounded. They related that in the direction of 
Blois, a party of skirmishers, with which they 
were serving, came upon, and surprised, a body 
of French, of whom, after a desperate fight, they 
captured two only, but left forty dead on the field. 
This, they stated, had taken place eight hours' 
distance {i.e., 24 miles) from Orleans. A few 
days later, I received three others, who had been 
engaged in a similar small skirmish with the rear 
guard of the enemy. All three, by an odd coin- 
cidence, were wounded in the upper extremity. 
One Hussar had received a bayonet- thrust through 
the upper and fleshy part of his arm ; but, with a 
beaming smile, he related how he had cleft the 
Frenchman's head in two, while his opponent 
was in the act of making his thrust. The other 
two had bullet wounds in their arms, evidendy 
received at close quarters. 

On another day, two men were brought in. 



CH. XV. CAPTAIN SCHRENK. 177 

who had been shot by a couple of Francs- 
Tireurs. These latter wore no uniform, and had 
coolly potted them from behind a hedge. Yet, 
as the following notice from General Wittich 
announced, — and it was a sample of others posted 
up throughout the country, — all such civilian 
aggressors were liable to the extreme penalty. 
'' I declare to the inhabitants," so ran this 
document, " that all persons, not being soldiers, 
who shall be taken bearing arms against the 
German troops, or committing other acts of 
hostility or treason, will be irrevocably put to 
death. Only those will be considered as military 
who wear uniforms, or who are recognisable at 
rifle distance by distinctions not separable from 
the clothes which they have on." 

In the general arrangement of our Hospital, 
and particularly in the nursing department, we 
were greatly assisted by a most generous and 
kind-hearted little Bavarian, named Leopold 
Schrenk, Captain in a Regiment of the Line. 
He used to come every day when off duty, and 
work in our Hospital, ready to help all round, but 
was of especial service in looking after the patients' 
rations. I have seen him making the beds of my 
wounded men, and washing their faces. This 
devotion to his suffering and wounded fellow- 
countrymen was admirable ; but he displayed a 
hatred for all Frenchmen and Roman Catholics, 
and he detested priests, in a way which I could 



178 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xv. 

never account for, as it was very unusual among 
South Germans. However, he behaved Hke a 
staunch patriot, and was a favourite with us all. 
When I parted from him he gave me his address 
and his photograph. 

Some ladies who belonged to Orleans also 
came and distributed soup to the wounded ; 
among them one who was by birth from Ireland, 
Madame O'Hanlon. Actuated solely by motives 
of charity, they ministered alike to Prussians and 
French, with equal kindness and attention. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

CASES AND PATIENTS. — MARTIN DILGER.— HEAVY 
LOSSES. — FRENCH IRRELIGION CONTRASTED WITH 
GERMAN PIETY. 

As it is my object to exclude as much as possible 
professional details of my labours at the bedside, 
description of wounds, and the like, I shall again 
merely mention particulars of a few cases, in order 
to give my reader a general idea of the nature 
of the wounds received by soldiers in battle. 

Take No. 6, for instance, as I find it in my 
notes. It was a very bad case. A German 
soldier of the Line had received a bullet wound 
behind and below the calf of his leg, which passed 
up, without touching the bone, behind his knee 
joint, beneath the muscles of the thigh to the 
joint of the hip. Having pursued this most 
extraordinary course, it lodged so deep beneath 
the muscles that neither the German doctors nor 
ourselves, to whom the case was handed over, 
could find the exact position of the bullet ; yet 
I laid open its track in four or five places. Despite 
all treatment, he died eventually of blood-poison- 
ing. On making a post-mortem examination, I 



l8o WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xvi. 

traced the bullet actually into the abdomen, and 
still was unable to find it, although certain of 
its general position. These particulars I mention 
to show the unaccountable course a bullet may 
take after entering an extremity. There were 
dozens of similar curious cases, for which this 
may suffice as an example. 

In another instance the bullet, having entered 
the right thigh and fractured the bone, carried 
along with it, impacted in its centre, a splinter of 
this bone, and pieces of the tunic and lining, as 
well as of trousers and shirt. It then entered the 
left thigh, lodging close to the skin on the outer 
side, from which I extracted the different frag- 
ments in the order just described. 

By this time we had evacuated the large shed, 
which was now only occupied by those who 
suffered from pyaemia, or blood-poisoning. All 
the rest had comfortable quarters in different 
portions of the building ; but these unfortunates 
were doomed to remain in the shed, though ex- 
posed to the biting frost and bleak winds of 
November. The simple reason was that their 
presence under the same roof with their comrades 
would mean certain death to all. When they 
had contracted this dread disease, which they 
chiefly did by infection, their only chance,— and a 
poor one it proved, — was to be placed in a current 
of fresh air. Hence their removal to this shed was 
commonly but their first step to the deadhouse. 



CH. XVI. BLOOD-POISONING. l8l 

This plague of the Field Hospital made great 
havoc amongst our men during the month of 
November in Orleans, as it had done at Sedan 
in September. The only instance of recovery 
after it, which came under my notice during the 
whole campaign, was that of the Bavarian named 
Martin Dilger; and his was of a very bad type. 
His thigh had been amputated ; and, when the 
symptoms set in, I sent him out to the shed" 
where he quickly became as bad as his com- 
rades. I attended him several times every day ; 
but he speedily grew worse, until at last, his case 
seemed more desperate than all the others. The 
soft parts sloughed, leaving the thigh-bone pro- 
truding ; while the patient was almost comatose, 
and had that violent hiccough which is generally, 
in such cases, the forerunner of death. Several 
of my fellow-surgeons, moved by feelings of 
humanity, advised me not to put him to the 
useless pain and annoyance of dressing his stump, 
since he was in articulo mortis, and his recovery 
beyond the range of possibility. However, I 
resolved that while he lived, I would do as much 
for him as possible ; and I continued to dress 
his wounds. 

Dilger had prolonged and repeated rigors, 
followed by profuse perspiration, and was gener- 
ally of a bluish livid colour, — all symptoms of most 
deadly omen. I gave him as much brandy as he 
could take, and chloral every two hours, for the 



1 82 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xvi. 

hiccough, which was so violent that it shook not 
only his whole frame, but the bed on which he 
lay. Yet, in a few days these rigors subsided ; 
he opened his eyes, and became conscious. In 
the face of such a decided improvement, I 
ventured the opinion that he would recover. He 
was now taking immense quantities of brandy, 
which was supplied from the stores, and broth 
which I had made for him in the town. Under 
this treatment his wounds took on a healthy 
action, his pulse and temperature came down, and 
rational speech returned, instead of his low 
muttering delirium ; my colleagues now admitted 
that his recovery was possible. I suffered him 
to remain in the shed, as I felt that his safety 
depended upon having him there. Some sug- 
gested his removal into a warm comfortable room 
in the town. Indeed, it was with difficulty that 
I turned a deaf ear to these suggestions, and 
overcame my own inclinations, when, on going 
to visit him on a cold November night; I heard 
the wind whistling through that goods store in 
the most melancholy manner, and the rain coming 
pitter-patter through the holes in the roof. 
Nevertheless, in this cave of y^olus he outlived 
all the others, and found himself at last its sole 
occupant. 

This was my first case of pyaemia at Orleans, 
but it was to be quickly followed by many more. 
A Black Hussar, in the first-class waitina;-room, 



CH. XVI. MANY BAD CASES. 1 83 

developed it in a most virulent form, and died in 
twenty-four hours. That frightened me very 
much, and I trembled for the safety of the rest. 
So I had my wards washed out with a strong 
solution of carbolic acid immediately. What 
made me still more apprehensive was the awful 
fact that, out of seventeen patients in a neigh- 
bouring ward, all hitherto going on favourably, 
fourteen died in a very short time of this dreadful 
scourge. In spite of my precautions, I found a few 
days subsequently that one of my patients had 
severe rigors, followed by perspiration ; and bitter 
was my disappointment to see a case which had 
been going on splendidly, almost even to com- 
plete success, suddenly turn to the bad in a few 
hours. I had my man at once removed to the 
shed, and, as I well remember, on a biting 
November night ; but I had no choice. I would 
have put him out on the road-side, rather than 
have allowed him to sow the seeds of inevitable 
death amongst the rest of my patients. 

The poor fellow had now plenty of company 
in his dismal quarters, for my colleagues had sent 
just as many out there as I had. 

Not three days afterwards, a bright, hand- 
some, fair- haired lad of about twenty, with a 
quick, piercing eye, and manly countenance, 
showed also the dreaded premonitory symptoms. 
I said nothing to him, but asked the Hospital 
sergeant to get two of his men and have him 



1 84 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xvi. 

removed on a stretcher to the deadhouse. Such 
I can only call the place from which none that 
entered it came out alive, except in the single 
instance I have quoted. Shall I ever forget the 
moment when the infirmiers came, and that poor 
young lad, looking me wistfully in the face, read 
his doom in my silence ? He knew what it meant. 
He had seen his comrades go, and had learned 
their fate, which was so soon to be his own. A 
few days later, I lost a fourth, — a good, pious 
fellow, who was continually telling his beads. His 
name was Johann Krum, particulars of whose case 
have been already given. He was a man that 
never smiled ; and when I discovered that he had 
left a wife and three children at home, I pitied 
him greatly. 

I am thankful to say that this was the last of 
my patients who succumbed to pyaemia. Any 
others whom I lost died from shock, hemorrhage, 
or the severity of their wounds. 

The days went on, until we had reached the 
second week of November. Skirmishes with the 
enemy, — that is to say, with the French, who 
were advancing upon Orleans, — now became an 
everyday occurrence; and the number of wounded 
that came straggling in meant a very considerable 
loss to the Bavarians. 

About this time, Dr. Pratt made a journey to 
Versailles, in quest of stores and money, leaving 
Dr. Tilghman in command. Inspector-General 



CH. XVI. BAVARIANS AT MASS. 1 85 

Nussbaum made several visits to our Hospital, 
and expressed himself greatly pleased with the 
way in which it was conducted. The truth was 
that nobody could teach our veteran Americans 
anything new in the management of a Field Hos- 
pital. They had all served their time during the 
four years of the American War, and under a 
system of military medical organisation which, as 
all authorities acknowledge, they had brought to 
perfection. This was the secret of the un- 
doubtedly successful career of our Ambulance. 
And I must not omit to observe that it was they 
who introduced the anterior suspension splint 
for fractures and wounds of the joints, which we 
were the means of having adopted in many of the 
German Hospitals. 

To turn for a moment, before the Germans 
evacuate Orleans, to a subject on which their 
presence and behaviour often set me thinking. 
It was a fine sight when the Bavarians heard 
Mass in the great Cathedral, to mark them fully 
equipped in heavy marching order, as they stood 
in close military array in every available portion' 
of the church, with sabres drawn, glittering hel- 
mets, and waving plumes. The officers, too, 
stood with drawn swords during Mass ; and at 
the Elevation they gave, in their deep sonorous 
tones, the word to present arms. Altogether the 
spectacle, though not calculated to inspire devo- 
tion, was most impressive. 



1 86 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xvi. 

The Bavarians are, as a rule, good Catholics, 
and large numbers of them were to be seen at 
daily Mass, reading their prayers attentively, and 
going up to receive Communion. In the Hos- 
pitals also, they showed the same devout temper. 
Their Chaplains w^ere zealous men, always at 
work among them, sharing their fatigues, and 
seeing that they attended to their religious duties. 
One of the infirmarians in the ward next to me, a 
common soldier, was in Holy Orders, though not 
yet a priest ; and a more saintly young fellow I 
never met. He was light-hearted and merry, had 
a pleasant word for every one, and fulfilled punc- 
tiliously the duties devolving upon him as a 
soldier, and as a minister of religion. In this 
matter, as in other things of less importance, the 
Bavarians struck me as very unlike the French. 
When you saw a French soldier in church (which 
was but seldom), he never seemed to utter a 
prayer. And I feel bound to set down my ex- 
perience, that so long as I was among them, I 
never noticed a French soldier with a prayer-book ; 
nor did I ever hear one pray when dying. Others 
may have been more fortunate ; but such was the 
fact in my case, and I think it deplorable. But 
the average French citizen appears to think no- 
thing at all of religion. 

Far otherwise was it with the Bavarians. 
And I have seen large numbers, also, of the 
Prussians and North Germans, who belonged to 



CH. XVI. FRENCH WANT OF RELIGION. 1 8/ 

the Evangelical or other Churches, reading their 
prayer-books and their Bibles in the Hospitals, and 
praying earnestly as a matter of course. These 
manifestly had religious convictions ; they served 
God with zeal and courage according to their 
lights. But in France the decadence of religion 
had been complete. No wonder, therefore, if she 
has fallen. Such, indeed, was the judgment of 
Europe a few months later, when the Commune, 
breaking out like a volcano, startled men from 
the Voltairean lightness which, during too many 
years of frivolity and thoughtlessness, had been 
the fashion. For a moment all were agreed in 
proclaiming the necessity of a return to the beliefs 
and practices of their Christian forefathers, — was 
it, perchance, too late ? 



CHAPTER XVII. 

FALL OF METZ ANNOUNCED. — THE BAVARIANS EVACU- 
ATE ORLEANS. — OUR DIFFICULT POSITION. — WE 
ARE TOLD OFF TO THE BATTLEFIELD. — THE 
ENGAGEMENT AND VICTORY OF THE FRENCH. 

On 28th Oct. the Inhabitants of Orleans had read 
with dismay and amazement the official report, 
printed and posted up as a placard on their walls, 
of the surrender of Bazalne with his army, and 
the capitulation of Metz. The majority were 
of opinion that the Marshal was nothing but 
a traitor. Many, nevertheless, whom I met, 
scorned to entertain such an opinion ; whilst 
others went so far as to declare that the whole 
thing was a German He. 

But to return to the subject of our Hospital. 
The wounded, as I have already stated, came 
straggling In by twos and threes, bringing with 
them reports of numerous skirmishes, which, ac- 
cording to their accounts. Invariably terminated In 
victory for the Germans. On the 6th and 7th 
November, large caravans of wounded came Into 
Orleans ; and we now became aware, through 
Information gained from them, that the great 
(188) 



CH. XVII. LOSSES OF THE GERMANS. 1 89 

Army of the Loire, so much vaunted by the 
French, and which up to this moment we thought 
had existed only in the imagination of the towns- 
folk, was no myth, but a reality ; while these 
convoys of wounded were the result of something 
far more serious than skirmishes between the 
outposts. 

With all this there was very little excitement 
in the town ; and the evening of the 8th arrived 
without anything happening to disturb the 
ordinary routine of our Hospital work. About 
eight o'clock our Chief was summoned to the head- 
quarters of the Bavarian Commandant. Here he 
was privately informed that the troops were going 
to evacuate Orleans that very night ; that there 
would most likely be a general engagement on 
the morrow outside the town ; and that, as they 
would be obliged to withdraw their Field Hospital 
corps and their surgeons, they laid upon our 
Ambulance the task of looking after all the 
wounded in their absence, and thus formally de- 
livered them over to our charge. 

When we heard of this most unexpected move, 
we were, as may be supposed, not a little excited. 
We could hardly believe that such a thing had 
happened to the ever-victorious armies of the 
Fatherland as a set-back, compelling them to give 
up this important position ; and to describe our 
state of mind during that night would be difficult. 
I had gone to the Hospital about seven o'clock to 



190 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xvii. 

see some patients, and all seemed quiet and 
peaceable. Now, I could not help thinking that it 
would be a sterlinor proof of the admirable organi- 
sation and discipline of an army amounting to 
[5,000 men, if, at a couple of hours' notice, it 
could evacuate, during the dead of the night, a 
large town like Orleans, carrying away arms, 
ammunition, and a heavy train of gans, without 
the knowledge of any but a few among the citizens. 
Some must have had their suspicions aroused by 
the preparations which were already being made 
in the Parks. But, until the appointed moment, 
when the bugle sounded, and the whole garrison 
turned out to join their regiments, by far the 
greater proportion of the inhabitants suspected 
nothing. Eleven o'clock p.m. was the hour ap- 
pointed to commence the evacuation. 

At half-past ten I took my stand at the door 
of 64 Quai du Chatelet ; and as the clock tolled 
eleven, I saw the sentries on the bridges leaving 
their posts and filing off in the direction of the 
Place Martroi. Presently, battalion after battalion 
marched past, on their way from the quarters in 
the side streets which adjoined the Quai. To our 
great grief we found that our infirmarians were 
also ordered out, leaving not a soul in charge 
of the Hospital, except the two surgeons on 
duty and their assistants. These had to minister, 
as best they could, to the wants of the poor de- 
serted patients. The truth was that the Germans 



CH. XVII. ORLEANS EVACUATED. I9I 

could not spare a single man, and were compelled 
to take them along with the Army. 

Some days before this, the bridge next us 
had been mined, and the powder laid ; we ex- 
pected that it would be blown up during the 
night. As this bridge was no more than a 
hundred yards from my bedroom window, I 
retired to rest with such pleasant anticipations 
as may be supposed. But, in spite of the excite- 
ment, I was quite overcome by fatigue, having 
been at work all that day, and on duty the 
previous night ; so that, in my drowsy mood, 
I seemed to care little whether the bridge or 
myself took an aerial flight. Next morning I 
repaired to the Hospital at six to look after my 
wounded. On my way through the towm I was 
astonished to meet several pickets marching 
along the streets ; but not another soldier, save 
a few sentries, was now in the place ; the latter 
being left, as I afterwards heard, merely to keep 
up appearances. Everything that they did not 
want to carry away with them the Germans put 
into a luggage train, which started from the 
platform of our Hospital during the night. 

Great excitement now prevailed among the 
townspeople, and they moved about the streets 
in crowds. All this time a heavy cannonade 
was going on at the North- West side, in the 
direction of Orme ; and the din and roll of battle 
apprised us of the fact that a hot engagement 



192 WITPI AN AMBULANCE. ch. xvii. 

was being carried on not far off. Multitudes 
surged up on the bridge, and kept their gaze 
fixed in the direction of the fighting, which was 
indicated, not only by the booming of cannon, 
but by the wreaths of smoke which we could 
see many miles away, ascending in the still air. 
All these spectators chattered and gesticulated 
vehemently ; nor could anything exceed their 
emotion. They ran about shaking each other 
by the hands in a fever of excitement, as the 
hour of their deliverance drew on apace. Once 
again I saw wreaths of immortelles placed upon 
the statue of the Heroic Maid, which stands with 
drawn sword by the river. 

When we had got through our Hospital work, 
we received orders to prepare for an expedition 
to the field of battle. It had been determined, 
however, that, in any circumstances, we should 
return to the Hospital that night, and take up our 
medical duties again. 

It was only now that we realised the, awkward- 
ness of our situation. Bound to stand our ground, 
no matter who might be victorious (though 
none of us anticipated the defeat of the Ger- 
mans), the possibility of a French victory and 
a fresh occupation of Orleans by the latter, 
filled us with disquietude. We were under the 
direction of the foreigners, identified with their 
cause, receiving our orders from them. Our 
sympathies were supposed to be Prussian, while 



CH. XVII. DOUBTS AND FOREBODINGS. I93 

our Hospital and ourselves had been maintained 
by requisitions on the town. Hence the question 
arose, what kind of treatment should we receive 
at the hands of our new masters, when the last of 
the Germans had quitted Orleans ? Would they, 
in the flush and the tumult of victory, over- 
look the fact that we were neutrals, engaged 
simply in alleviating the horrors of war.^ It 
seemed not to be impossible, so far as the popu- 
lation was concerned. But again, would the 
French military admit of our claims to be an In- 
ternational Ambulance ? or take us prisoners and 
send us beyond the frontier ? for they could 
not detain us under the Convention of Geneva. 
Such were our speculations when we left the 
town about 9 a.m. in our Ambulance waggons, 
and with our flags flying. Drs. Parker and 
Warren were left behind in charge of the Hospital. 
We took the road to Coulmiers, where the firinor 
was heaviest, and from which place it appeared to 
be rapidly extending northwards. 

As we passed along, the crowd on the bridge 
gave us a friendly cheer, and I cannot recall a 
salutation that caused us more pleasure. The 
town was still in the possession of the Germans, 
although their only representatives were an 
under officer and a handful of men on sentry 
duty, who could at any moment have been easily 
overpowered by the mob. As our conveyances 
rolled through the gate of the Faubourg St. 
13 



194 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xvii. 

Jean, leading out into the open country, we were 
surprised to find a solitary German on guard, 
who saluted us as we passed. Probably he was 
even then convinced of his approaching fate ; but 
he knew his duty too well to abandon his post. 
There, as Dr. Warren afterwards told us, he 
remained until the French came and relieved 
him of his guard for ever. 

In half an hour from our exit, we came up 
with a Bavarian battalion, consisting of a regi- 
ment of 2000 men, about 300 cavalry, and a 
battery of guns. Many of the officers were old 
friends of ours, and received us very kindly. 
They were short of surgeons, and prevailed on 
us to stay with them ; saying that every minute 
they expected to be called into action, and to 
receive their orders to advance. Our position, 
at this time, was close in the rear of the fighting 
Bavarian army, and within sight of the field of 
battle. 

Thus it was that we were placed on - the high 
road, upon a little rising ground which commanded 
a view of the country between Baccon and Coul- 
miers. Thence we saw that a fierce battle was 
raging, a host of above 60,000 Frenchmen giving 
fight to perhaps some 15,000 Bavarians. The 
result of so uneven a match became evident very 
early in the day. A short time after noon, the 
South Germans had retreated from their position 
in the woods and village in front of us, and the 



CH. XVII. THE BATTLE OF COULMIERS. I95 

French were appearing in force on the ground that 
their opponents had occupied an hour previously. 

The firing was now vigorous and incessant : 
the din and roar of battle were something tre- 
mendous ; and the French bombshells feJl short 
of us only by a few hundred yards. Our party, 
which was halting in ambush, and as yet un- 
perceived by the enemy, every moment expected 
the order to advance. For ourselves the sus- 
pense was most painful, and yet we had to re- 
main there stationary for as much as an hour. 
During all this time the men were in their ranks, 
ready for action. In that vast concourse not a 
word was spoken : all appeared sullen and out of 
spirits ; but that sullenness was usual with them. 
Some, overcome by fatigue and hunger — for they 
had not tasted anything but the bread which they 
carried since the previous night — slept soundly 
just as they were, leaning back on their knap- 
sacks. While these slept, the others watched 
their comrades being picked off on the plain 
below, apparently without the smallest concern 
or excitement. Thus did they placidly view the 
course of the battle, awaiting their turn to join 
in the fray, and add to the number of the dead or 
dying. 

About three o'clock the artillery fire slackened, 
and we joined in the general backward movement 
which took place along the whole line. The rattle 
of musketry resounded on every side of us, and 



196 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xvii. 

was kept up without intermission. The Bavarians, 
though fighting hard, were now rapidly losing 
ground ; and the French were not only advancing 
as fast as they gave way, but threatening to close 
in upon them all round. They were likewise 
striving to outflank them on the right ; so that, 
by half-past three, the German soldiers found them- 
selves compelled to retreat, though fighting still, 
lest the enemy should effect this object. Thus, 
with the Loire at our back, we had only a narrow 
strip of country between us and Orleans, by which 
to make good our escape. The French, who 
swarmed along in every direction, fought des- 
perately ; and, in particular, one regiment of 
Chasseurs a Pieds and Gardes Mobiles made a 
most brilliant charge against the trained Bavarian 
veterans, who were occupying in force the heights 
of Renardier. From this place they dislodged 
the Teutons, who had then to join our force in 
the general retreat. 

By four o'clock on this autumnal day it was 
quite dark. The firing gradually ceased, and 
the French remained in possession of all they 
had captured. Now on the Bavarian side there 
was a general order given to retreat ; it was 
obeyed with alacrity. We followed the defeated 
army for some distance ; but when we learned 
that Etampes was their destination, and that the 
German troops were utterly to abandon Orleans, 
we parted company with them ; for under any 



CH. XVII. GAMBETTA S GENERALSHIP. I97 

circumstances, and at all risks, we were bound to 
return to our Hospital. From the first sound 
of the retreat, w^hich was carried out in quite 
an orderly but still in a precipitate manner, we 
expected every moment to hear the French 
Cavalry coming down upon us. It had been 
rumoured that they were present in great force. 
This pleasant expectation compelled us to hasten 
our steps, but neither we nor (as it turned out 
afterwards) any of the German troops experienced 
the least molestation in our rapid retreat. What 
was the explanation of so remarkable a pause 
in pursuit, considering that General d'Aureilles 
de Paladine had a host of mounted men at his 
command ? We were told by the French that 
it was the result of interference on the part of 
M. Leon Gambetta, who forbade Paladine to 
follow up his victory. M. Gambetta suspected 
that the flight of the Bavarians was a ruse to 
entice the French into a trap. He dreamed that 
they had an auxiliary force somewhere in the 
neighbourhood, which might surround the Army 
of the Loire, and bring about its irreparable ruin. 
Whatever may have been the reason, certain it 
is that the Bavarians were saved from annihila- 
tion. They retreated that night in perfect 
safety, and were joined next day by the Grand 
Duke of Mecklenburg. They had allowed the 
French to gain a victory, which proved to be 
their first and last in this sanguinary contest. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

AFTER THE BATTLE. — ORLEANS FROM WITHOUT AND 
WITHIN. — THE MOB AND THE AMBULANCE. — 
THE BAVARIAN GIANT. 

Our duty was now to return to the battlefield, 
and render all the assistance we could to the 
wounded, so forthwith we retraced our steps ; 
and, though our day's experience, owing to cir- 
cumstances over which we had no control, had 
not been very fruitful of work, it was fraught 
with much strain and anxiety. The night was dark, 
but we had no difficulty in making out our way, 
the numerous camp fires in front serving us as 
beacons. We pushed on to the scene of the 
day's conflict, Tilghman and Sherwell riding 
ahead, to see that the route w^as clear. 

One part of the road had a shrubbery at the 
left hand side ; and, just as we came to the 
corner of it, we perceived a figure standing 
amongst the bushes. As we approached, the 
man stepped forward, and the light of our 
waggon lamps revealed the uniform of a French 
soldier. He challenged, and brought us to a halt. 
The difficulty of our situation was now apparent. 
(198) 



CH. XVIII. FRENCH SOLDIERS AFTER VICTORY. I99 

We were about to enter the French lines, having 
served the Germans all day in a medico-military 
capacity, and having come from their headquarters 
at Orleans. 

A patrol on outpost duty quickly appeared on 
the scene, and we were detained some time until 
an officer was brought up. Having questioned 
us about all these particulars, and heard our 
replies, he informed us that it would be necessary 
to conduct us to headquarters, and take us into 
the presence of the General, before he could per- 
mit us to go on our way. At the same time 
he showed us the utmost courtesy. We were 
now surrounded by a strong escort, and had 
no choice but to follow. We soon came in sight 
of the French camp, and as we passed by the 
rows of cheerful blazing fires, around which were 
clustered, in merry groups, the victors of the day, 
the ring of their mirth and revelry contrasted with 
the deep gloom which had hung both upon our- 
selves and our German colleagues since morning. 

This great army was reckoned at 100,000 men, 
who now lay in the open plain under canvas. 
We passed along through several regiments of 
the Line, of Turcos, Zouaves, and Gardes Mobiles, 
all in excellent trim, and as jolly and pleasant as 
possible. They did not at all appear to be 
the undisciplined rabble which the Germans 
had represented to us. A rare opportunity was 
now given of contrasting the relative strength of 



200 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xviii. 

these opposing armies ; but on this subject no 
inquiries were made. On the contrary, we re- 
ceived orders not to exchange a word on the 
matter. 

Singing, eating, and drinking, appeared to be 
everywhere the business of the night. Presently 
we came to a halt before M. de Paladine's tent ; 
and our chief. Dr. Tilghman, was conducted alone 
into his presence. The doctor told him exactly 
what our position was ; and how we had left our 
quarters at Orleans to come and assist the 
wounded on the battlefield. Our duty had been 
to pick up any that had escaped the notice of the 
military surgeons, and to get them into the neigh- 
bouring houses. But, said Dr. Tilghman, we 
were bound to return to Orleans next day, and 
resume charge of our wounded. This was a 
difficult matter to settle ; for, as the French had 
not followed up their victory, they were still under 
the impression that Orleans was in German hands, 
nor could we undeceive them. The question was, 
would it be safe to let us go back when we had 
been through the camp of the French, and had 
made observations on their position ? Upon this 
head Dr. Tilghman speedily received a satisfactory 
answer. General de Paladine observed court- 
eously that, in dealing with us, he had to deal 
with English and American gentlemen, who had 
already given abundant proof of their honour and 
the integrity of their word. In short, when Dr. 



CH. XVIII. WE LEAVE THEIR CAMP. 20I 

Tilghman had shown all his papers, and the testi- 
monials of past services rendered to the French, 
the old General was profuse in his acknowledg- 
ments, being evidently in high good humour over 
his day's success. 

When the interview came to an end, the 
members of the 5th Ambulance received us most 
cordially, and invited us to mess with them. But, 
after some deliberation, Dr. Tilghman, thanking 
them for their kindness, and deeming our position 
an awkward one, determined immediately to re- 
trace his steps to Orleans, from whence he could, 
on the following day, send waggons to take as 
many of the wounded as possible into the town. 
He had good reasons for thus acting, and without 
waiting for a morsel of bread or a glass of wine, 
we moved out of the camp on our way home- 
wards. 

In a large space, near the General's quarters, 
lay the bodies of several Bavarians — perhaps a 
dozen, some of whom had their faces turned up as 
they were lying, and looked very ghastly. Out- 
side the camp, the ground was strewn, in some 
places quite thickly, with the Bavarian soldiers 
who had fallen on that day, which had proved so 
disastrous to their arms. The sight, though no 
longer strange, was all the same a sad one to us, 
for we had begun to look upon the wearers of the 
light blue uniform with friendly fellow-feeling, 
and we seemed (so fast does the time run in a cam- 



202 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xviii. 

paign) to have been long associated with them. 
I shall not here describe the battlefield, since my 
view of it, by the light of our lamps and of the 
moon (for a beautiful moon arose just in time to 
show us the way home), was, of necessity, rather 
limited. But, in any case, I doubt the possibility 
of depicting, as they really present themselves, 
the details of a battlefield. Who can do justice 
to the heartrending scenes of warfare as carried 
on with modern weapons, the chief excellence of 
which seems to consist in the degree of mutila- 
tion which they can inflict on the bodies of those 
against whom they are directed ? 

Before relating our entrance into Orleans, I 
will give Warren and Parker's account of what 
had happened in the town after our departure. 

As the day advanced, and rumours were 
spread of a French victory, the excitement of the 
townsfolk knew no bounds. They rushed fran- 
tically about in all directions, but did not dare to 
interfere with the few soldiers on guard at the 
gates of the Mairie and at the Hospital. 

In the afternoon, however, when it became 
generally known that the Germans were retreat- 
ing, not towards the town but in the direction of 
Etampes, the populace became most riotous, and 
from the manner in which they menaced the un- 
fortunate guards, it was plain that their lives 
were in great danger. At our Hospital, in- 
deed, where there were ten men on guard over 



CH. XVIII. MOB INVADES OUR HOSPITAL. 203 

some Ambulance waggons at the door, the mob 
met with a stern opposition. The German 
soldiers stood together, with their swords drawn, 
and, bidding defiance to the crowd, were deter- 
mined not to budge an inch, but rather to die 
than relinquish the charge assigned to them. 

These brave fellows, who stood so resolutely 
by their post, would most assuredly have met 
with a violent death at the hands of the Orleaners, 
had not the Mayor sent out a Parlementaire, 
accompanied by a body of the Gendarmerie of 
the town, and requested them, in the name of the 
Government of National Defence, to lay down 
their arms. This they did willingly, as they saw 
the danger of their position, and so they were 
taken off as prisoners to the Mairie. A great 
crowd followed, howling and yelling in the most 
disgraceful manner during the whole journey. 

Just about the time when the sentries were 
removed, the blue blouses rushed into our Hos- 
pital and seized all the rifles which they could lay 
hands on. The wards and other offices of the 
railway terminus now presented a scene of un- 
utterable confusion. Drs. Warren and Parker, 
like true Britons, in spite of all this, remained at 
their posts ; they refused to allow any of the mob 
to enter our store-rooms, or private Bureaux, and, 
although repeatedly threatened, would not sub- 
mit to the intrusion. But their demeanour was so 
calm and steady that they experienced no rough 



204 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xviii. 

usage. Their situation during that tumultuous 
day was certainly far from enviable. In the 
forenoon, several officers who had been wounded, 
and were in consequence left behind, came to our 
men entreating them to keep their swords for 
them, or else to let them hide them in our store- 
rooms. This request we were bound to refuse ; 
but they succeeded in putting their weapons 
away among some bedding, which was lying in 
the waggon sheds at the terminus. 

A very amusing incident occurred at this time. 
There was a young Bavarian officer, the tallest 
man I have ever seen except one (who was, of 
course, an Irishman), who had been slightly 
wounded in the hand. For this reason he had 
been left on duty in the town, and not seeing 
any way of escape, slipped into our Hospital in 
the afternoon ; but, finding that the mob was 
becoming riotous and might at any moment 
discover him, he divested himself of his helmet, 
cuirass, and uniform — he belonged to the house- 
hold cavalry — which Drs. Warren and Parker 
consented to stow away in a corner. But in vain 
did they search for a bed long enough to cover 
the prostrate form of their giant ; and it was 
only by stratagem that they succeeded at last in 
concealing him. The young man spoke English 
well, and was evidently by birth a gentleman. 
I cannot recall his name. Hardly was he settled 
in his hiding-place when, as Dr. Warren told 



CH. XVIII. THE ADVENTURES OE A GIANT. 205 

US, some of the mob rushed wildly through the 
Hospital ; whereupon the doctor sat down leisurely 
on the bed beneath which our hero lay half 
smothered. When the tumult had somewhat 
subsided, and darkness set in, our brave cuir- 
assier, bruised and sore from the hard boards, 
at length was allowed to creep out. 

He now donned a suit of peasant's clothes, 
or rather two suits, for it took all that to cover 
him, and even then, as the Irish proverb has it, he 
looked " like a crane in a crate ". All this notwith- 
standing, he appeared in his disguise every inch a 
soldier, and a German to boot. For a heavy 
bribe he procured a donkey cart, in which he 
seated himself, with legs crossed on some bundles 
of fuel, and a carter's bullock whip in his 
hand, and thus set out on his perilous journey. 
Having arrived safely outside the town, he took 
to his heels, and by-and-by chartering an old 
worthless animal from a peasant, reached the 
German headquarters in Etampes. It will be of 
interest to state that, subsequently, at the re- 
taking of Orleans, this officer was one of the first 
to greet us on entering the town ; and his satis- 
faction at recovering his helmet, cuirass, and 
accoutrements was unbounded. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

OUR AMBULANCE RETURNS. — ENTRY OF THE FRENCH. 
— THEIR DISHEVELLED APPEARANCE AND DIS- 
ARRAY. — WE ARE SENT OUT OF THE RAILWAY 
STATION. 

Now that I have given a rough sketch of some 
of the experiences of Drs. Parker and Warren, 
to whom I am indebted for the foregoing particu- 
lars, I must return to our Ambulance cortege, 
which I left in the moonlight making its way 
back to Orleans at the dead of the night. 

About an hour after our interview with the 
General we found ourselves in the open country, 
whence we could see the glare in the sky thrown 
up by the numerous fires in the French camp 
which we had just quitted. The early part of 
the night had been bright and fine, but ere long 
we had to encounter a storm of wind, hail, and 
rain. For some time we had much difficulty in 
picking our way, as the roads were narrow and 
winding, as well as rugged. Calling at the few 
peasants' houses which we passed, in order to 
get directions, we found the inhabitants in a 
frenzy of fear, and either unwilling or incapable 
(206) 



CH. XIX. AT THE GATES OF ORLEANS. 207 

of assisting us. We learned, subsequently, from 
the owner of Chateau Renardier, that they took 
us for Prussians, and our French injir7niers for 
spies. When we had gone past these scattered 
dwellings, we came at length on the broad route 
Imperiale, which we needed only to pursue in order 
to arrive at our journey's end. Frequent w^ere 
our surmises as to whether the French or the 
Germans, or either, were in occupation of Orleans. 
After what had happened that day, and especially 
as the Army of the Loire seemed to be makino- 
no effort to advance, we could none of us tell 
what the case within the city might be. We 
drew near anxiously, but observed that no pickets 
had been set, nor were we challenged by outposts 
or sentries. This led us to imagine that the 
place was no longer in the occupation of the 
Germans ; for otherwise we never should have 
come thus far without being halted by their 
numerous sentinels. Outposts, we knew, would 
have been planted along the roads for miles 
outside the town by them ; whereas experience 
told us that the present state of things was not 
in the least incompatible with a French occupa- 
tion, and with French military tactics. 

We passed on unmolested until we got to 
the same gates by which we had come out that 
morning. Then, at last, as we entered, the 
challenge came, and we were brought to a 
standstill. We all now tried to catch a 



208 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xix. 

glimpse of the sentry in the darkness ; we ad- 
vanced slowly, and our lamps revealed a slight, 
well-built man, in a grey tweed uniform and tan 
leather leggings, with a Tyrolese, or kind of 
wide-awake hat, surmounted by a feather, set on 
the side of his head. Clearly this was no German. 
With his rifle slung across his shoulder in the 
most nonchalant manner, he put his questions to 
us. Who were we, whence had we come, and 
whither were we going ? Having satisfied him- 
self ^upon these points, he leisurely blew his 
whistle, and quickly brought to his side about 
half a dozen men similarly clad, accoutred and 
armed. One of these turned out to be an 
Englishman, who conversed freely with us, and 
was most polite, giving our chief the password. 
He informed us that they were a body of Francs- 
Tireurs, who had come from the country across 
the Loire, and had occupied the town a few hours 
before nightfall. They numbered only a hundred, 
and with the exception of a company t)f Gardes 
Mobiles, there were no regulars in the town. 
On the way to our quarters we were several 
times challenged by pickets patrolling the streets, 
but giving the password we were allowed to go 
forward, and so reached our quarters, thoroughly 
worn out, at three in the morning. 

Dr. Sherwell and Mr. Adams were immedi- 
ately sent to the Hospital to relieve Parker and 
Warren, who came back to the Quai du Chatelet 



CH. XIX. BRAVE CONDUCT OF OUR COMRADES. 20g 

and reported the thrilling incidents which had 
happened while we were away, some of which I 
have endeavoured to set down above. We were 
given only a brief interval for sleep. At an early 
hour we had to be up and about the Hospital, 
dressing and attending to the wounded, who had 
suffered considerably in our absence, not so much 
from lack of surgical aid, as from want of food and 
drink. For all the military nurses had been 
drawn away ; and the onerous task of giving them 
food and looking after them had devolved on 
Parker and Warren, a duty which, in spite of all 
difficulties, they did their utmost to fulfil. Much 
credit is due to these gentlemen for their brave 
and noble conduct upon that memorable day. 
By their coolness and determination they made 
all safe for their helpless patients, and protected 
them from the violence, which might easily have 
gone to great excess, of the rabble of Orleans. 

About ten o'clock on the morning of the loth, 
Mackellar, Wallace, and our acting chief, Dr. 
Tilghman, went out with their waggons to the 
battlefield about Coulmiers and Baccon, and pick- 
ing up some thirty-three badly-wounded men 
brought them into the city. We were much dis- 
tressed to hear from them, how, on going over the 
battlefield, one of the first bodies which met their 
gaze was that of a young Bavarian surgeon, who 
used to work with us at the railway terminus when 
we first came. The poor fellow lay on his back, 
14 



2IO WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xix. 

his face turned up, stripped of his boots and 
trousers, which no doubt had been appropriated 
by some plundering Frenchman, who was in need 
of both. It is incidents Hke this which bring 
home to one the horror and the waste of war. 

That same morning, when business required 
me to go through the town, I was astonished 
to see the motley collection of French soldiery 
which had flocked in from all quarters. It was 
not their numbers which surprised me, — I had 
set eyes on the Grande Armee of Sedan, — but 
the variety of uniforms, and the quaint un- 
military get-up of the individuals who composed 
this array of M. Gambetta's. Many in the first 
regiment that passed along seemed to be half in 
German and half in French costume. One fellow 
had put on a pair of Bavarian trousers and boots, 
another had a complete French costume all but 
his helmet, another German sidearms and belt, or 
a French uniform and a Bavarian plume. The 
trousers and boots of the enemy appeared, how- 
ever, to be in greatest demand. Fully one third 
of the new-comers were raw recruits, and little 
more than boys. To complete the incongruity of 
the scene a large American flag was borne upon 
a staff as the standard of this regiment, having 
the words *' Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite" stamped 
on pennants which hung from each corner. 

One could not help smiling as one watched 
this miscellaneous rag-tag collection marching 



CH. XIX. A MOTLEY ARRAY. 211 

past. We asked one fellow where they were 
going; he answered gravely, "To Paris, in order 
to crush {ecraser) the Germans ". After these 
came a regiment of poorly clad boys, looking cold 
and weary, as well as homesick. Some of the 
latter had wooden shoes, in which they clogged 
lamely along the pavements, in a slouching style 
that was by no means soldierlike. Then followed, 
by way of a redeeming feature, one of the regi- 
ments of the Line, in which every man bore him- 
self splendidly. After these, we remarked com- 
panies of Francs-Tireurs, and detachments of the 
Garde Mobile, who marched along in the hap- 
hazard manner of civilians during a public pro- 
cession. One youth, possibly a half-witted fellow, 
or a volunteer who had joined en route, made me 
laugh heartily. He was dressed in full Bavarian 
costume, plume and all, and marched along bear- 
ing a most impassive countenance, quite unaware 
of the ridiculous figure he was cutting, in a uni- 
form that was much too big for him, and in a 
helmet and plume which no doubt became their 
original broad-faced owner, but certainly never 
were meant to adorn the head of a thin and 
sharp-featured Frenchman. How it came about 
that these fellows were permitted by their officers, 
for very shame, to make such a spectacle ot" 
themselves, I did not understand, until an intelli- 
gent townsman let me into the secret of the 
soldiers' wardrobe, by assuring me that the men's 



212 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xix. 

boots and clothes were made for sale rather than 
use, and were all thoroughly rotten. 

The excitement and enthusiasm of the towns- 
people were, as I need hardly say, beyond de- 
scription. They rushed about shaking each 
other by the hands, and swearing to do terrible 
things on the Prussians, when their troops had 
once got into Germany. 

Early in the afternoon, during the entry 
of the French divisions, no less amusement 
than bustle was created at our quarters on 
the Quai du Chatelet, by our Turco Jean 
rushing wildly up the town, in his white apron 
and cap, with a rifle in his hand, to meet the 
regiment of his fellow-Turcos, which, as some 
one had told him, was among the arrivals. He 
went as on wings to the Place Martroi, and find- 
ing that such was indeed the case, threw himself 
into the embraces of his companions. These 
were also in a fever of excitement. They 
crowded round the statue of Joan of. Arc, and 
waving turbans on the points of their bayonets, 
yelled as loudly as their throats would suffer 
them : " Vive I'Empereur ! A bas la Republique!" 
Had they been natives they might have been 
shot for sedition. In this little episode Jean cut 
the most ludicrous figure, entering into the 
demonstration heart and soul ; for like every 
Turco, he dearly loved his Imperial master. 
Even now, when all was over, the Turco was 



CH. XIX. LOYAL TURCOS AND LIVELY FRENCH. 213 

Still his devotedly attached friend, and scorned 
to conceal his loyalty towards the man for whom 
he had fought with such valour and desperation. 
It may perhaps be asked whether to introduce 
these Algerian barbarians into civilised warfare 
was not as great a crime as the employment, 
during the last century, of Red Indians by the 
English and French in North America. Their 
appearance at the statue of the Maid was cer- 
tainly in a high degree picturesque. 

I am, of course, incapable of describing the 
varied scenes of excitement which greeted the 
soldiers on every side. How long would such an 
army keep its hold on Orleans, I asked myself as 
I moved about, bewildered by the seething crowds. 
Not long, it seemed to me. When later in the 
day, every cafe was crowded with soldiers, they 
appeared to be feasting freely in order to make up 
for past short commons. All seemed thoughtless, 
gay, and oblivious of danger. Nor did they care 
one jot, apparently, what had become of the 
Germans. Truly, these French are an astonish- 
ing people ! 

In my short walk from the Quai du Chatelet 
I could not have seen less than ten thousand men, 
and again I was struck by the contrast between 
the soldiers of the two nations. In the stunted 
and undeveloped make of these youthful French 
levies, any observant spectator, though not a 
physician, might have beheld the offspring of 



214 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xix. 

parents who had overtaxed their vital energies by 
dissipation and luxury. Physical degeneration 
had set in among the inhabitants, not of the large 
towns only, — such as Marseilles, Lyons, and 
Paris, or Roubaix and St. Etienne, — but in the 
rural parts of the country likewise, ever since the 
days of the Revolution. Napoleon's wars had 
consumed the men of France during his twenty 
campaigns. But that was not all. I have spoken 
of the decay of religion ; it was a patent fact ; 
and, with religion, morality had seen its own 
influence decline. Legal restrictions on the dis- 
posal of property had given strength to the system, 
whereby married persons limited their families 
according to their means and social position. 
That is the undoubted cause of the estrangement 
between the average layman and the Catholic 
clergy that has so long prevailed ; for against this 
system the clergy have set their faces, as they 
were bound to do. With such parents, and 
especially when their fathers set them the^example, 
it was not to be wondered at if the growing lads 
had put away religion at an early age, and so lost 
the moral restraint which would have enabled 
them to turn out valiant men, sound in mind as in 
body, and a match for any Germans. Their 
sunken eyes and pinched faces, their whole bear- 
ing, indeed, told a very different tale. We were 
looking on, in those unhappy days, at the wreck of 
a population which, in shame and defeat, was 



CH. XIX. SENT AWAY FROM THE TERMINUS. 21 5 

paying the penalty of laws not to be broken with 
impunity. 

So much for the rank and file. As regards 
the singular want of courage no less than com- 
petency among their officers, it may with truth be 
affirmed that one of the main factors, in addition 
to those already mentioned, was the total neglect 
of early training, and the absence of that physical 
education which tends to a manly development. 
This system, which characterises public school 
life in England and Germany, and which results 
for the most part in a straightforward character, 
and an undaunted temper, had not then been 
introduced into France. It is now not unknown 
there, and will perhaps change the disposition of 
the coming generations. Many tokens there are 
to prove that such a change is greatly needed. 

Towards evening equal confusion and con- 
sternation was caused by our receiving an order 
from the French Commandant to evacuate the 
railway station in two days. We were told that 
we must by that time have all our wounded 
taken away. Dr. Tilghman protested that we could 
not complete the evacuation of the buildings in 
less than four days, and we were allowed the 
time required, but informed that as traffic would 
recommence immediately, our business was at 
once to clear out of the stationmaster's and super- 
intendent's offices, which we did forthwith. 

On the next morning, the nth, a long train 



2l6 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xix. 

full of people arrived on the platform. They 
were the first passengers we had seen since our 
coming to the place. The change now suddenly 
wrought was wonderful Where up to this we 
had been masters, and where the profound silence 
had for a long time been broken only by the chat 
of the medical staff, or by the groans and cries 
of the wounded, we were now jostled about on 
a densely crowded platform, and could hardly 
hear our own voices, so great were the din and 
clamour of passengers endeavouring to secure 
seats in an outgoing train, or to get their luggage 
from the one which had just arrived. I enjoyed 
the novelty of the thing much, although the 
shrieking of railway whistles, and the hissing of 
the steam-engines were no pleasant sounds to 
have continuously in one's ears. 

While we remained, I saw numbers of French 
soldiers going round to the beds of our wounded 
Germans and shaking hands with them. These 
friendly enemies tried to convey their^ meaning 
by signs and gesticulations ; they gave away their 
tobacco ; arranged the beds ; and did many other 
little acts of kindness, which were received with 
no less good will by the Germans. It was a pretty 
sight. On one matter French and Bavarians 
seemed of one opinion, which the latter expressed 
in their quaint phrase of "Bismarck Caput". 
"Caput," that strong man armed undoubtedly had 
proved himself to be. 



CH. XIX. OUR NEW QUARTERS. 21/ 

It was whilst standing on the platform 
awaiting the arrival of a train when I had 
finished my Hospital work, that I saw the 
new Dictator, M. Leon Gambetta. I knew 
him at once from the description that had been 
given me. He was speaking in low, earnest 
tones to an elderly gentleman, a member of the 
Provisional Government, and when I had surveyed 
his by no means elegant form, and caught from 
beneath a pair of prominent and bushy eyebrows 
several glances of his dark piercing eyes, I came 
to the conclusion that his appearance was not 
at all prepossessing. His military discernment 
on the day of Coulmier, which had saved the 
Bavarian army from total ruin, I have mentioned 
in its place. I never saw him again. 

Our chief was now busily engaged looking 
out for a building, public or private, in which 
we could establish our Hospital. After much 
difficulty, a large and spacious mansion, belong- 
ing to a gentleman named D'Allaine, was placed 
by him at our disposal, and thither we determined 
to transport our wounded as soon as practicable. 
The house was situated off the Place du Grand 
Marche, behind the Quai du Chatelet ; — that 
being the old market-place, and one of the most 
ancient parts of the town. It had one great 
advantage ; it was only a few minutes' walk 
from our quarters. The authorities also put at 
our disposal the Caserne St. Charles, a large 



2l8 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xix. 

building across the river. We despatched the 
greater part of our invaHds into that caserne at 
once. 

The first man to be sent out of the railway 
station in order to make room for the traffic was 
Martin Dilger, the surviving tenant of the goods- 
shed, to whose successful battle for life I have 
already alluded. His almost miraculous recovery 
made him better known to my colleagues than 
all the rest ; and though I had upwards of twenty 
at that time under my charge, he commonly went 
by the name of ''Ryan's man". I had taken 
particular care of his food, getting him meat, 
wine, and fruit as I could, and even that great 
rarity, a chicken, which latter was not easy to 
come at, especially if there happened to be Turcos 
about, for at stealing poultry these Africans are 
worse than foxes. Dilger was quite strong and 
merry when I removed him to D'Allaine's house. 
He showed his delight and gratitude in every 
possible way, often alluding to his condition when 
in the shed at the railway station ; and he had 
a somewhat German habit of making me laugh 
by hiccoughing in order to recall to me that 
painful symptom from which he had suffered. 
He has since written to me several times, and I 
will give a specimen of his letters in due course. 
The poor fellow had left at home a wife and 
children, which was no slight addition to his other 
troubles. 



CH. XIX. CONTRADICTORY FRENCH ORDERS. 219 

As great numbers of wounded were being 
brought into the town, and it was difficult to find 
accommodation for them, we hastened to get the 
Caserne St. Charles ready, and received into it a 
large batch of them. These were principally 
Germans, sent to us by reason of our previous 
association with their armies. When we had got 
everything here into working order, conceive our 
amazement and wrath on hearing that Dr. Tilgh- 
man had been told immediately to evacuate the 
Barracks ! Room was to be made for the Foreign 
Legion. There was no alternative; remonstrance 
would have been waste of time ; and we put our 
hand to this fresh and most provoking move. 
While it was being carried out, as the wounded 
must be taken to our Hospital at D'Allaine's, Dr. 
Parker and I were busily employed in transport- 
ing them across the town, using for this purpose 
every available conveyance. Thus we were com- 
pelled by the French authorities to take out of 
their beds, as best w^e could, men in dire agony, 
some even at the door of death, and all severely 
wounded. 

I could not recall without pain the details of 
the scenes which accompanied their transporta- 
tion. As I have said, their wounds were all 
of the gravest character ; some were mortal, the 
majority were amputations, and the remainder com- 
pound fractures, or severe lacerated shell wounds. 
To shake the bed of many of these patients. 



220 VvTTH AX AMBULAXCE. CH. XIX- 

or even to move them gently, was to cause them 
acute sufferino-. One mav imaoane the ao-onv of 
these brave fellows when they were hauled out on 
their mattresses and put, two or three together, 
into a cart or waggon, which, no matter how care- 
fully driven, had to jostle them along the wear\- 
streets to their place of destination. 

I went successively into several of the waggons 
where some of the worst cases were, and did all 
in my power to mitigate their dreadful pains ; but, 
in spite of ever\ thing I could do, they moaned 
most piteously as the wheels bumped over any 
roughness in the pavement. I thought a bullet 
through the heart was preferable to such agony 
as they endured. Even to look on at it was too 
much. 

About iSth November, we had completely 
evacuated the Station. The last batch consisted 
of those who had been lying in the refreshment 
rooms, and. as these apartments were not required 
by the railway othcials, they did not oblige us to 
remove our wounded in such precipitous haste. 
Ever}- day fresh supplies of woimded were being 
brought in : and not only even' available nook 
and corner in our Hospital was occupied, but also 
many of the neighbouring houses. It was, how- 
ever, expressly forbidden by the public authorities 
that any house should harbour the militar}-. 
whether wounded or not, unless a declaration of 
their presence had been made, and leave obtained. 



CH. XIX. OVERTASKED AND WORRIED. 221 

Our work was now very heavy and our 
energies tasked to the utmost. Besides the evil 
of overcrowding, we had to contend against the 
innumerable difficulties consequent on our having 
been ordered about from one place to another 
without notice, or sufficient time to make prepara- 
tions for departure. Then upon getting into our 
new quarters we had to re-establish our culinary 
and commissariat departments, on which every- 
thing depended, as well as to re-organise the sys- 
tem of Hospital management, and put the whole 
into working order. Until this was effected 
(which would take about a week) our whole day's 
work was nothing but a scramble from morning 
till night. Our chief was completely distracted 
from constantly receiving orders to have certain 
things done, and then (as in the case of the 
Caserne St. Charles) just when he had accom- 
plished them, and was settled down, getting fresh 
orders countermanding the first. All this was 
thoroughly French, — at least, it was quite in 
accordance with our experience of their 
system. 

For the first few days after the return of the 
P>ench, the revelry and rejoicings of the towns- 
people were excessive. From the appearance 
of the streets, the bustle, and the dense crowds, 
one would have thought that some great festival 
was being celebrated. It was astonishing to hear 
these people talk and boast of their glorious 



222 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xix. 

victory of Coulmiers — the first they had gained, 
and, as it was to prove, also the last. But it would 
sadden the heart of any lover of France to 
witness these frivolities, these humiliating follies 
of her vain-glorious and light-hearted citizens, 
who never seemed to think seriously of anything, 
no matter how grave the issue. 

Soon, however, the bustle in the streets sub- 
sided, and the military became comparatively 
few in number; many had gone to the front. But 
there was an evident intention of making a stand 
at Orleans, should the main body of the army 
be compelled to fall back again. I saw hundreds 
of men hard at work erecting barricades and 
earthworks across the faubourgs ; w^hile trenches 
and rifle pits were cut in all directions through 
the vineyards which lay about the suburbs of the 
town. An order was issued by the Commandant 
to leave the tall vine stakes standing, so that they 
might hinder the progress of the enemy, should 
they re-invest the place. If I may be allowed 
to anticipate, these very stakes were a most 
serious impediment to their own retreat before 
the Germans during the following month. Wher- 
ever they are abundant in vine-growing districts 
they make the country impervious both to cavalry 
and artillery, and form a splendid ambuscade for 
infantry troops in action. But the disadvantages 
of them from another point of view seem to have 
been overlooked. 



CH. XIX. INFIRMIERS MADE PRISONERS. 223 

It was a source of deep regret to me, during 
this campaign, that I was not better posted on 
military matters ; for, had I been acquainted even 
with the rudiments of war tactics, the numerous 
and important military operations which were 
carried on immediately under my observation 
would have been intelligible to me without 
the aid of an expert, and that blank which now 
must be left in this slight record might have 
been filled up with many most interesting- 
details. 

The few convalescents who had acted as our 
infirmiers and attendants, and with whom we 
had been working the Hospital since the evening 
of the 8th, — at which time, as the reader will not 
have forgotten, all our regular nurses and in- 
fi7miiei^s were drawn away for active service — 
were now sent off to Pau as prisoners of war. 
This we thought unwise and intolerable ; but it 
was done in spite of remonstrances on our part 
that such dealing was nothing less than a viola- 
tion of the Geneva Convention. What did we 
get in their place ? Simply a scratch company 
of French mfirmiers, whom we had much diffi- 
culty in knocking into shape, and whom we found 
by no means so ready to submit to discipline as 
had been their German predecessors. One of 
the new arrivals was a little fellow named Jack, 
by birth a native of Flanders, but who had been 
all his life on board a ship in the British Merchant 



224 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xix. 

Service, and who had had the top of a finger 
shot off. He had joined the Foreign Legion, not, 
as he told us, from any liking for war or for 
France, but in order to be with an old companion 
who had joined that corps. He was quite a little 
dwarf, and unsuited to hospital work ; but his 
superiors, deeming him, I daresay, no great orna- 
ment to his regiment, had handed him over to us 
as an infirmiei^. Besides his native language, he 
spoke English, French, and German fluently, and 
professed to be able to converse in Spanish and 
Italian. This might have been of service to us 
in an emergency ; but the following anecdote 
will show what a treasure we had got in our 
Fleming. 

One night Dr. Mackellar and I were on duty 
with Jack when a case of extensive contusion 
(with compound fracture of the leg) began to 
bleed ; and Mackellar came to the conclusion 
that immediate amputation was the only course 
possible. We therefore set about removing the 
limb. Dr. Mackellar operated, and I assisted and 
gave chloroform, while Jack was to hand the 
sponges, carbolised water and other requisites. 
In the middle of the operation, our good dwarf, 
getting nervous at a sight to which he was so 
little accustomed, lost his self-control and while 
endeavouring to effect a retreat, fell on his 
head to the ground in a swoon. I am afraid 
we both laughed at the prostrate brave, who was 



CH. XIX. JACK, THE DWARF. 225 

a regular lion in his own opinion. Left to our- 
selves to do the work, we had some difficulty in 
finishing the operation satisfactorily. But that 
w^as the last occasion on which Jack figured as an 
assistant in the operation room. 



15 



CHAPTER XX. 

AMERICAN FRANCS-TIREURS. — PONTOON BRIDGE OVER 
THE LOIRE. — FRENCH CARELESSNESS. — SOLITARY 
DEATHS OF THE WOUNDED. 

About this time a small regiment of American 
volunteers, in Franc-Tireur uniform, passed through 
Orleans on their way to the front. Their Colonel 
called on us, and offered a place as assistant 
surgeon to any who might be willing to join. 
Had I been at liberty, the spirit of adventure 
would assuredly have prompted me to accept his 
offer, and he pressed me hard to do so ; but the 
required permission was wanting. These men, 
I afterwards heard, joined General Bourbaki, and 
having been driven over the Swiss frontier, were 
detained as prisoners of war. 

About the 20th November Dr. Pratt returned, 
bringing with him tw^o gentlemen, Mr. Olive and 
Mr. Wombwell, who were to take charge of the 
commissariat and store department. They had 
been in London, and brought a large supply of 
stores. They, like Hayden and myself, had been 
taken by Francs-Tireurs, not once, however, but 

twice, and only the French passport which Dr. 

(226; 



CH. XX. THE BRIDGE OVER THE LOIRE. 22/ 

Pratt held ever since his departure from Paris, 
prevented them from being shot out of hand as 
Prussian spies. 

A work of great interest was being carried 
on by the garrison within sight of our windows 
on the Quai. It was the construction of a pon- 
toon bridge across the Loire, for the more speedy 
passage of troops. The Germans, some weeks 
previously, at the time we arrived in Orleans, 
had attempted a similar bridge ; but before they 
had half finished it, a flood came one night and 
swept the whole thing away, to the intense 
amusement and delight of the Orleaners. The 
pontoon bridge which the French now constructed, 
showed not only the perfection to which military 
engineering had been brought, but also the ac- 
quaintance which the natives possessed with the 
sudden and violent floods which were wont 
unexpectedly to swell the current of that great 
river, causing its waters to rise in a few hours 
so as to overflow its banks and flood the adjoining 
country. The bridge was composed, not of 
pontoon boats, but of large barges, which had 
been used on the river for the freight of merchan- 
dise. These were connected with one another 
by pine trees, which themselves had been lashed 
together by spars. A rough idea of the size of 
the bridge will be given if I state that it took 
thirty-three such barges to make its length, and 
that they were about ten feet apart. 



228 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xx. 

Active preparations were now being made 
on all sides for a determined stand. Every one 
said that ere many days were over, the enemy 
would be once more upon them, but they reckoned 
that an engagement, though sure to be bloody 
and desperate, would end in a decisive victory 
for the French army. Such was the gossip of 
the town, and of officers in the cafes whom I 
fell in with. 

Another event, of even greater interest than 
the construction of the bridge, was the entrance, 
one frosty morning, of a body of marine infantry, 
bearing with them four gunboats placed on long 
timber waggons, each drawn by eight horses. It 
is not easy to describe how very novel and curious 
an appearance this flotilla on dry land presented as 
it passed slowly down the Rue Royale, each gun- 
boat fully rigged, and carrying on board its bright 
brass cannons which glistened in the sun. 

As I happened to have half an hour to spare, 
I followed the marines, curious to see what 
w^ould become of this extraordinary naval pro- 
cession. 

The limber waggons with their cross beams, 
on which the keels of the boats rested, took up 
nearly the entire breadth of the street. When 
they arrived on the Quai du Chatelet, I found 
myself one of a large crowd that had been 
drawn there by the same motive, and we 
wondered much how these unwieldy things could 



CH. XX. A GUNBOAT OVERTURNED. 229 

be launched. It was surprising with what faciHty 
this was done by comparatively few hands ; but, 
presently, when our interest in the performance 
had yielded to admiration, we saw the last of the 
gunboats turn upside down as soon as it was in 
the water, flinging cannon, men, and everything 
on board into the Loire. The danger seemed 
not so great as it might have been, and we were 
much amused. There followed a univeral scramble 
of excited Frenchmen to haul their comrades out 
of the stream ; but their whole idea of assisting 
the struggling men was to gesticulate frantically 
at them, and at their neighbours on shore, and to 
maul one another in a fashion as ludicrous as it 
was unseasonable. Some of the marines, how- 
ever, let down a boat and brought their comrades 
on shore. But it was not until next day that they 
were able to right the gunboat, and they never 
fished up the cannon and other materials which 
had sunk with it. 

I often watched these diminutive men-of-war 
as they cruised about at a great speed, for they 
were driven by steam, with their guns as bright 
as gold, and the tricolour flying from their sterns. 

On the banks of the river opposite our 
quarters, there were several cannon placed on the 
footpath with a sentry on each. And speaking of 
sentries, I am reminded how great was the differ- 
ence between the French and the German method 
of occupying a town in time of war. When the 



230 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xx. 

Germans were at Orleans, they set a sentry at every 
street corner, several at either end of the bridges, 
one in every public square, and one at the door of 
every person at all distinguished. A stranger 
would be challenged at every couple of hundred 
yards, nor could he pass along anywhere unob- 
served. Not so was it with the French. During 
their stay we seldom came across a sentry, and, 
when we did, he took no more notice of those 
who passed by, or of what went on in his neigh- 
bourhood, than if he had been at a review. 

Again, during the French occupation, we 
missed the noise and rattle of the many hours of 
morning drill in which our Germans troops were 
daily practised, no matter how long had been 
their previous marches, or how severe the hard- 
ships they had undergone. During the weeks 
which the French spent in Orleans I never once 
saw their soldiers at drill. When they came into 
the town they simply threw their arms into a 
corner in their quarters, and left them there until 
they were again on the move. That such was 
the case I have personal reason to know ; for in a 
house where I was attending a wounded man, I 
saw such a collection of arms, and they remained 
untouched till the regiment to which their owners 
belonged took its departure. 

But this was only in keeping with all that I 
had seen of the discipline and internal regime of 
their armies. A significant token of their ignor- 



CH. XX. REQUISITION OF MAPS. 23 1 

ance with regard to the country in which they 
were fighting was that, immediately on entering 
Orleans, they requisitioned, by public placards, all 
maps of the surrounding districts which might be 
in the hands of the inhabitants, ordering them to be 
delivered up forthwith to the military commandant. 
Thus did their organisation prove itself in every 
detail either deficient or slovenly. And on all 
sides there was accumulating evidence of some- 
thing radically unsound in the army as in the 
people. 

About November 22, the Inspector-General 
of French Ambulances called to see us formally 
at the railway station with Messieurs Cremieux 
and Bezoin, two active members of the Pro- 
visional Government. With all three we shook 
hands solemnly, and received their thanks for 
the assistance we had rendered to the French 
wounded. They signified to our chief that France 
would be in a position, by-and-by, to make some 
public recognition of our services ; and after the 
exchange of other compliments bade us a cordial 
farewell. 

In the midst of the excitement and bustle, 
consequent on the fact that Orleans was now the 
headquarters of the Army of the Loire, we con- 
tinued our daily labour at the bedsides of the 
wounded, caring little about what was happening 
outside our own sphere of work. Many of our 
wounded were scattered through the town ; and 



232 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xx. 

these, comfortably established in private houses, 
we visited every day. As already stated, after 
leaving the terminus we took up our quarters at 
M. d'Allaine's in the old market-place. Here 
we set up our Hospital exclusively for German 
wounded, as, in the circumstances under which 
we found ourselves in the town during the French 
occupation, and taking into consideration the 
nature of our mission there, we considered the 
care of the wounded whom the Germans had left 
to us as our primary duty. For this reason we 
kept them together as much as possible, that they 
might not fall into other and less attentive 
hands ; and when we had done our duty by them, 
we bestowed such time as we could spare upon 
any French wounded that came under our charge. 

At this time our position in Orleans was ex- 
tremely critical. All knew that we had been in 
the service of the Germans, and that they had 
looked upon us as part and parcel of their medical 
army corps ; and we could hear many a' subdued 
expletive when we passed along the streets. It 
was, however, most likely for this reason that no 
one dared to molest us. They had learned by a 
bitter experience how inevitable was the Prussians' 
day of retribution, and tbey knew with what 
severity the invaders punished any outrage on 
their friends. 

Now it was that Colonel Reilly, Captain 
Frazer and Colonel Hozier arrived in Orleans with 



CH. XX. PLEASANT EVENINGS. 233 

the headquarters of General d'Aureilles de Pala- 
dine, as attaches to the Foreign Embassy. They 
came several times to mess, and spent their even- 
ings with us, — pleasant jovial men, and as brave 
as they were agreeable. Nothing could be more 
welcome, when one was fagged and worn out after 
a long day's work among the wounded, than to 
turn in to a comfortable dinner with nearly a score 
of good-natured fellows, who vied with one an- 
other in making the evening pass pleasantly for 
all. Never a wrangle, never a hasty or bickering 
word was exchanged ; never did an unkind re- 
mark or an ungenerous act mar that friendly har- 
mony which existed among the Ambulance corps 
then working unitedly under the banners of 
England and America. 

I often look back with feelings of satisfaction 
to the cheery circle we used to form when mess 
was over, seated round a large wood fire ; and I 
can still see the grinning face of "Nigger Charlie" 
as he entered the room, bearing in his hand a 
large wash-hand basin of steaming punch with a 
dash of brandy and port in it, flavoured with 
spices and lemon, which we could pronounce with 
a good conscience to be all it seemed. 

Our work was taxing and incessant, but no- 
thing is too hard if one goes at it with a will. Yet 
my advice to anybody who has a soft drop in 
him, and who contemplates entering upon a cam- 
paign, would be that he had better stay at home. 



234 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xx. 

One of our party was a good musician, and 
every evening entertained us by playing on a 
piano which we borrowed from a merchant, as 
the Scotch would call him, in the town. This 
was a grand resource after supper when we all 
came together. And so much for our leisure 
hours. 

In the daily routine of professional work at 
this time I have nothing out of the way to 
chronicle. There was one case, however, the 
particulars of which might be interesting. The 
patient's name was Karl Melchers, a young 
artilleryman, who had been shot in the leg at 
the end of October, and whose thigh was sub- 
sequently amputated at the railway station. He 
had been transferred then to M. d'Allaine's, 
where, to my grief, he showed symptoms of ap- 
proaching pyaemia. Reluctantly, but forthwith, 
I determined that he must be put out of the 
Hospital ; and I took peremptory orders from my 
chief to that effect. 

Now the difficulty was to find a place where 
I could lodge poor Melchers. I tried at the 
neighbouring houses, but all that were not oc- 
cupied by invalids were full of the rank and file 
of the army now billeted through the town. 
Not a nook could I discover anywhere. In the 
yard, however, there was an empty stable, and 
into this i had no choice but to have Melchers 
conveyed. In order to give the place a less 



CH. XX. KARL MELCHERS. 235 

dreary appearance — it was dismal enough — I 
procured some straw, and had it laid on the 
pavement. He was then brought down on 
his mattress, and I never shall forget the poor 
fellow's face when he caught the first glimpse of 
those new quarters which he felt that he should 
not long occupy. 

When he found himself laid on the straw, 
alone, and separated from his companions perhaps 
for ever, the utter desolation of his fate dawned 
upon him, and he sobbed audibly. Yet he was 
a fine brave young fellow, with piercing black 
eyes, dark hair and whiskers, and a very high 
forehead. We were the best of friends ; and I 
did all in my power, little enough as it was, to 
comfort him. I persuaded one of our nursing 
sisters, a native of Luxemburg, who belonged to 
the convent of Notre Dame de Recouvrance, to sit 
beside him on the straw, and talk to him for a while. 
However, both Sceur Berthe and I had soon to go 
about our own business, and leave him to himself. 
Day after day he complained bitterly of being 
where he was, in the damp and cold, but there 
was no help for it ; his presence in the neighbour- 
hood of any other wounded must have meant the 
death of many, if not of all. Once he called the 
sister and me to his bedside, and said : " My end 
is now not far off ; I should die happy had I but 
one half-hour with my comrades, behind my gun, 
with a thousand Frenchmen in front of me ". 



236 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xx. 

Another day and this poor fellow, after having 
bidden us a touching farewell, — for he knew that 
we could not help his unhappy position, — died in a 
manner and in a place that I should not have 
liked his poor old mother away across the Rhine 
to have seen. Yet melancholy as were the cir- 
cumstances attending the death of this dauntless 
soldier, still more pitiable was the fate of many 
others as brave as he, who were condemned to 
drag out the last few hours of their existence 
on some bleak and lonely hillside, or in the 
thick brushwood skirting some silent forest, or 
in the swampy sedge beside some rivulet. Such 
tragedies were not uncommon during that stern 
winter which was now setting in, as I can but too 
surely bear witness. 

Always we were expecting to hear of an 
engagement taking place in our neighbourhood ; 
but none happened until Thursday, the 24th 
November, when we learned from the military 
in command that hostilities had begun in the 
direction of Neuville. During the evening of 
this day, some of us were told off for field service, 
and made preparations to depart. I was among 
the number. 

It gave me, I must confess, no small pleasure 
to be chosen to go to the front. There is a 
fascination in the excitement of the battlefield ; 
and, even in its horrors and imminent deadly 
perils, a seduction, which one cannot easily resist. 



CH. XX. TOLD OFF TO THE FIELD. 237 

A life of campaigning seems to bring out what 
moralists would perhaps term a diseased hanker- 
ing after its uncertainties and adventures. But in 
the case of the Ambulance officer this not alto- 
gether human quality is liable to be merged in 
one more useful. He is in the field not to give 
wounds, but to heal them, and to assuage the 
suffering that makes war so detestable in one 
aspect, so heroic in another. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

TO THE FRONT. — TURCO AND ZOUAVE ENCAMPMENTS. 
— SKIRMISHING. — FALSE NEWS. — THE SHAM FIGHT 
AT NEUVILLE. — RETURN TO THE CITY. 

On the evening of the 24th, our chief reported him- 
self to the General Commandant, and asked for a 
'' Feuille de route,'' and '' Laissez passer'' which 
were freely granted, together with instructions to 
push on as far as Neuville at once ; for no doubt 
our services would be required there before many 
hours. Already we could hear the cannon boom- 
ing in the distance, which satisfied us that this 
speculation was correct. Early next morning we 
started with our omnibus and train of 'waggons, 
leaving the town by the Faubourg Bannier. 
Every man carried with him all the portable 
necessaries, consisting of bandages, chloroform, 
morphia, lint, tourniquets, and instruments. When 
we were clear of the town, a good insight into the 
doings of the French during the past few weeks 
was permitted us. We saw how they had exe- 
cuted their plan for the fortification of Orleans, 
and had made an entrenched camp round about 
(238) 



CH. XXI. DEFENCES OF ORLEANS. 239 

it, with ninety- five naval guns manned by the 
seamen from Cherbourg. 

At regular intervals the road was intersected 
by trenches of great depth and width, running 
parallel to each other, and extending for miles 
round the town. They had been driven alike 
through the woods, the open country, and the 
vineyards. The cuttings which were thus made 
in the road had been filled with bundles of twigs 
and birch tops, packed together and covered with 
sods, so as to admit of one waggon crossing them. 

It surprised me that our horses' feet did, not go 
through ; but I remarked that the bundles on the 
top were made of fine slender maple tops. The 
sensation experienced when crossing these elastic 
surfaces was very peculiar. The omnibuses and 
waggons sprang up and down, and rocked from 
side to bide, as if they had been on india-rubber, 
until I thought we should be upset ; but we were 
perfectly safe, and the materials proved admirably 
suited for their purpose. They had, of course, 
the advantage of being easily removed on the 
shortest notice. The covering of sods was 
nothing to speak of, and had by this time re- 
solved itself into a mere crust. 

The trenches, however, were not by any 
means so numerous as the shallow rifle pits and 
earthworks, which, taking a zigzag course, inter- 
sected one another, and seemed to form a net- 
work in every direction. It was clear to us that 



240 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxi. 

the deep trenches were intended to arrest the 
progress of artillery and cavalry, while the pits 
and mounds were for sheltering advancing in- 
fantry. All this pointed to the determination 
of the French to make a resolute stand at 
Orleans ; but we all agreed that we should yet 
see the Germans making use of those very trenches 
to defeat the army which had constructed them. 
And so it turned out. 

On our journey we passed through the forest 
near Orleans, where one portion of the French 
army had recently encamped. They had cut 
avenues through the trees, and crossed them 
again at right angles by others. At each side 
of these were erected little huts, made of branches 
set upright in the ground, and interwoven with 
smaller branches and twigs, while a rough thatch 
of broom and birch tops covered them. This gave 
the whole the appearance of an Indian village. 

Some of the huts were large and commodious, 
and if not perfectly strong, made a comfortable 
shelter against the blast. When inhabited, one 
could well imagine what a picturesque appearance 
they must have presented, as seen at night by 
the blaze of the camp fires. We were told that 
here had been the quarters of some of the troops 
from Algiers. The French always kept these 
wild fellows as much as possible by themselves, 
and away from the towns, where they are apt 
to become unmanageable. 



CH. XXI. ZOUAVES AND TURCOS. 24I 

Some miles further on, in the middle of an 
open country, we met an encampment of Zouaves. 
The ground was all converted into a heavy slush, 
for it had been raining ; and these unlucky men, 
stationed here during the past four days, were 
under orders to move on to the front in the 
morning. As a group of them stood beside 
a fire near the road, I was struck with their 
jaded and draggled appearance. Half famished, 
and up to their ankles in mud, they gave little 
earnest of the spirit with which they would go 
into action on the morrow. Numbers of them 
were moving about, carrying wood and water, 
while others were cooking their victuals. I felt 
much amused at the manner in which some of 
them performed their morning ablutions. Two 
fellows whom I noticed were kneeling on a 
board, washing their faces in some dirty water 
that had lodged in a waggon track. There were 
Turcos among them ; — one a dark, fierce-looking 
brigand, who stalked up with an old barn-door 
cock in his hand and a turkey under his arm, 
jabbering to each of his victims a jargon, which 
they probably did not understand, though they 
fluttered and screamed in answer to him. These 
feathered captives were, no doubt, the result of 
a visit to some old dame's farmyard ; for Turcos 
never pass through a country without stealing 
all the poultry and eggs they can lay hands on. 
Such is the "loot" on which they set value. 
16 



242 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxi. 

Further on, we marched through several 
hamlets which were almost entirely deserted, as 
were, indeed, most of the farmhouses. Presently, 
one of the sentinels at an outpost challenged 
us, and in half an hour we found ourselves 
at our destination. Neuville is a tidy village 
situated on the north-east of Orleans, which can 
boast its little square and town hall, or Mairie, 
and presented the clean and neat appearance of 
which I have so often spoken when describing 
the hamlets I came upon in my French travels. 
It lies on the outskirts of the forest of Orleans, 
and has a small but decent church at one end, 
and a fine corn market at the other. Its central 
square now afforded a most lively scene, being- 
covered with tents from which the French soldiery 
were swarming out ; and by their excited manner 
and, — even for them, — unusual volubility, it was 
not difficult to guess that some event of the 
gravest importance was threatening. 

We reported ourselves to the Commandant, 
who looked at our papers, w^as made aware of our 
business and destination, and assigned us quarters. 
This gentleman, who was most courteous and 
communicative, informed us that there had been 
a battle on the day previously, in which the Prus- 
sians were repulsed, and that, although the en- 
gagement had been long and hotly contested, the 
losses on the French side were trivial; while those 
of the Germans, if not heavy, were yet not incon- 



CH. XXI. FRENCH ''GLORIOUS VICTORIES". 243 

siderable. We also learned that a few small 
skirmishes had taken place during the early part 
of the day, and that the cannon which we heard 
were further up the French lines to our right. 
The Commandant said that for the wounded at 
Neuville he had ample provision in his military 
surgeons ; but added that he expected an engage- 
ment on the morrow, when our services would 
probably be useful. 

Such appear to have been the facts. Yet, a 
few days afterwards, the French journals gave a 
glowing account of an engagement which had 
taken place on that very day, and in which a large 
number of Prussians were killed, with the loss of 
only one Garde Mobile and half a dozen wounded 
on the French side. Well and good, if the papers 
had confined themselves to the doings of the 24th, 
when there was really some brisk fighting, and 
some cannonading too, as I can testify ; for I saw 
where a bombshell had entered the mayor's house, 
and, having passed through the roof, had burst 
inside, knocking in the ceiling of the sitting-room, 
and riddling the partition walls so that one could 
see into the adjoining chamber. But all beyond 
this was exaggeration or fable. 

I remarked that many of the houses in Neu- 
ville had received the like treatment, and that, 
here and there, doors, windows, and sashes had 
been smashed by fragments of shells. Presently, 
while wending our way through the camp to our 



244 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxi. 

quarters, we fell in with a young corporal, who 
was of English descent on the mother's side. He 
had known Dr. May in Paris, spoke English 
fluently, and showed much refinement and intelli- 
gence. He told us that, on the day before, some 
thousand and odd Frenchmen had defeated in a 
pitched battle four thousand Prussians; but as the 
French had had fresh reinforcements that morn- 
ing, they were now on a more equal footing with 
the enemy, and could muster, at least, three 
thousand men. About the movements or position 
of the other side no one seemed to have precise 
information, which rather astonished us, since 
they talked so confidently. 

When we had put up in a little tavern, situated 
in a by-lane, and as clean and comfortable as we 
could expect in time of war, we went out again 
to see what was going forward. On one side 
to the north of the village, our friends had con- 
structed rifle pits, mounds, and trenches just as 
at Orleans, but on a smaller scale. 

We directed our steps to the church, and 
found there several score or so of wounded, 
the greater number of whom were German. 
These latter were in charge of a very uncom- 
municative young surgeon of their own, who, 
although I have no desire to misjudge him, did 
not seem to be very deeply concerned about 
his patients. They were all gravely wounded, 
and lay on the flags, with but a scanty supply 



CH. XXI. THE CHURCH-HOSPITAL. 245 

of Straw beneath them, having neither blankets 
nor anything else to cover them, except their over- 
coats. Many were in a dying condition, their 
limbs mangled by fragments of shells, or tra- 
versed by bullets in some vital part. Two of 
them assured me that their wounds had not been 
dressed since they were brought in from the battle- 
field, and that the bullets were still unextracted ; 
but this may have happened from want of Hos- 
pital plant and material. We had, however, the 
gratification of seeing the few out of that dying 
multitude who could bear removal, transported to 
our depot at Orleans ; while the rest were left 
under the charge of their German doctor, let us 
hope to die in peace. 

Some lay in the sanctuary of the church 
beside the altar ; others made use of the steps 
to support their aching heads ; and we noticed 
others again who were writhing on the ground 
in the agony of death. 

But war had imposed its burden on us, and 
we took an early rest in order to be fresh for 
our work next morning. Dr. May was told off 
to rise at three, and ascertain when we might 
be expected to be up and moving. The morning 
came ; but no firing had as yet begun, and 
Dr. May let us lie until seven. When we came 
down, the village presented a very different 
aspect from that of yesterday. Not a civilian 
was to be seen in the streets. A regiment silently 



246 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxi. 

drawn up was in the centre of the square. Every 
man stood in his place, with his hand on his 
rifle, and ready to begin at a moment's notice. 
Our forces at this point consisted of a regiment 
of marine infantry, a couple of regiments of the 
Line, a few hundred cavalry, and three batteries. 

We took our position on the route Imp^riale, 
immediately outside the town, from which place 
one could observe how the forces were disposed, 
and the relation which we bore to the enemy. 
There was a forest in front of Neuville, some few 
thousand yards away from the earthworks, and 
in and beside this wood the Prussians held their 
ground. The French infantry were drawn up 
within and in front, as well as on the left of the 
town ; while the artillery had taken up their posi- 
tion on a small hill to the right, from which they 
could rake the plain before them, should the 
Prussians give them battle. In the rear of the 
artillery, and away from the town, were placed 
the cavalry. 

Now, when I talk of the infantry being drawn 
up, be it understood that they were not ranged 
in lines on the open plain, as the uninitiated 
might suppose, — far from it, — for, positively, on 
looking over the country, it was hard to make 
out their presence. The French forces were 
scattered about in farmyards ; behind woods, 
orchards, and hedges ; and close to the houses 
themselves. 



CH. XXI. MARKING TIME. 247 

The early part of the morning had been wet, 
but it was now quite fine ; and my reader can 
imagine with what burning anxiety we kept our 
eyes on the plain before us, and with a fixed gaze 
waited for the moment when the familiar rattle 
at the outposts should declare that hostilities had 
begun. 

Time passed, and no wounded were coming 
in. Some of us walked about unheeded, observ- 
ing all we thought of interest. The Prussians 
were not visible, and we were moving along the 
road, when we saw the outposts engaged at two 
different points, as we judged by the smoke and 
the sounds of musketry. 

We now retreated to our lines, feeling sure 
that this was the commencement of a hot day's 
work. However, it turned out otherwise ; for 
after a considerable amount of shiftinof their 
position on the part of the infantry, and the 
advancing of a few companies, there was very 
little firing on either side save that which was 
kept up between the outposts ; and they, in the 
end, got tired of firing in the air in the direction 
of one another. I should say, from the distance 
they were apart, that they might have gone on 
firing till the day of judgment, and done no exe- 
cution on their respective enemies. In a little 
time two companies went forward and exchanged 
a few volleys with the Prussians, whereupon the 
latter retired altogether from the scene. Thus 



248 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxi. 

ended the battle of the 25th, without a drop of 
blood being shed or a single man being wounded. 

Now, it may appear strange that I should have 
travelled into the details of so bloodless an engage- 
ment ; but my reason for doing so is simply this, 
that a few days later, when perusing one of the 
French journals, I lighted on a glowing report 
of three brilliant victories which had been gained 
at Neuville by the French, on the 24th, 25th, and 
26th of November, with all particulars at length. 

The comments on the battle of the 24th, as 
I have said, were exaggerated ; but in describing 
the two days subsequent, my newspaper stated 
that, after a determined resistance of many hours, 
the Prussians were completely routed, and had 
left eighty prisoners in the hands of the French, 
with a quantity of baggage and waggons. I have 
given the circumstances of this notable victory of 
the 25th, and the reader may draw his own con- 
clusion. So much for French journalism, which, 
to my thinking, was not wholly guiltless of many 
of the disasters that befel the French arms. The 
facts I have related speak for themselves ; they 
furnish, however, an example of the mania, which, 
at this period, seized the French press, and led 
them persistently to falsify the news from the seat 
of war. Not only did they strain every effort to 
blindfold their own people, and screen the truth 
from them, — which was that they were being 
hopelessly beaten, — but they did their best to per- 



CH. XXI. BOASTING PROPHECIES. 249 

suade the world that they were winning, and that 
their ultimate success was certain. 

These bare-faced falsehoods, which delayed 
negotiations, and put off the treaty of peace until 
the country was exhausted, could be matched only 
by a story which I heard long afterwards. An 
acquaintance of ours, who was staying at Tours 
in 1880, used to relate how his French host was 
in the habit of saying, when they fell to talking 
about old times, '' F^^anchement, nous avons vaincM 
dans cette guerre, mats les gens ne veulent pas le 
reconnoitre ". No, I say, they hardly could ! 

We returned to Orleans on the night of Satur- 
day, the 26th, and next day, during a leisure half- 
hour, I wrote home rather a tame account of these 
glorious French victories. 

Wonderful (I used to think), how easy it is to 
revive by abundant palaver the drooping spirits 
of the French ! Not two months ago they had 
looked upon their prospects, if not with despair, 
yet with the most gloomy forebodings ; but to- 
day, elated by a few slight successes, they were 
swaggering about the streets, boasting of what 
France had done in generations past, and of what 
she would do in the future. It was no uncommon 
thing to hear them in the cafes talking of the 
requisitions they would make when they had 
raised the siege of Paris, and were marching- 
through Germany, about which they knew little 
more than they did of the interior of China. Nor 



250 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxr. 

would it have been safe to hint, at this period, 
that any Germans would still remain on French 
territory by that day six weeks. 

It was amusing, if also, perhaps, exasperating, 
to hear them run on in this fashion ; for we non- 
combatants all expected that ere many days we 
should see the German sentinels again at our 
Hospital gates. For ourselves, we were still 
branded by public opinion as Germans, and had 
nothing to protect us save our calling, and the 
flag which hung out all through, over our door on 
the Quai du Chatelet. Hence we were careful 
how we moved about after nightfall, lest we might 
come into collision with the soldiery, or such of 
the townsfolk as might have been disposed to 
interfere with us. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

BATTLE OF PATAY. — THE FRENCH RETREAT. — 
KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. — THE BATTLE CONTINUED. 
— ATTACK ON ORLEANS BY THE GERMANS. — 
BURNING OF THE PONTOON BRIDGE. 

Time went by in the ordinary routine of Hospital 
work, until the ist December, when the news 
of a successful sortie from Paris, made by Trochu 
and Ducrot, put the whole town into a fever of 
excitement. Report said that the Army of Paris 
was already approaching Etampes. 

Next day, 2nd December, we heard heavy 
firing going on all along the lines, so far as 
we could judge, from Neuville and Chevilly on 
the right, to Patay on the left. A severe frost 
had set in during the past fortnight, and there 
had been a heavy fall of snow during the last 
few days. The ground was hard, and the air 
clear, so that the roar of the guns thundered in 
our ears as if they had been only a few furlongs 
instead of eight miles away. Of course, it was 
devoutly held by the Orleaners that Trochu was 
fighting his w^ay through the Prussian lines, and 
would be in Orleans to-morrow. 
(251) 



252 WITH AN AMBULANCE. cH. xxii. 

We, however, guessed what the real state 
of things was. During the last week we had 
obtained permission from the French authorities 
to have the old Church of St. Euverte, in the 
Rue St. Aignan, fitted up as a Hospital, and 
the Mayor had provided about 300 beds with 
their bedding. We had been actively employed 
the past three days in transferring our wounded 
from D'Allaine's to our new abode ; and by the 
evening of the 3rd all our arrangements w^ere 
made to receive the wounded. The cooking 
department was seen to by an energetic French- 
man, M. Bonjour, whose services throughout 
our stay at Orleans can never be forgotten by us. 

Towards the evening of that same day, the 
firing became fierce and continual ; it appeared 
to come nearer than it had been in the morning. 
Both sides had heavy guns, eighteen and twenty- 
four pounders, hard at work. Nor were the mitrail- 
leuses inactive. It was not until long after dark 
that the cannonading ceased. As may be sup- 
posed, no one knew, though every one pretended 
to know, the result of this long engagement. 
Some I heard saying that Prince Frederick 
Charles had been taken prisoner with 20,000 
men ; while others ventilated equally foolish 
reports. But ere long convoys of wounded 
arrived, and we soon had no doubt as to what 
had happened. The French were evidently 
getting the worst of it. 



CH. XXII. AMBULANCE TO THE FIELD. 253 

Next day, the 4th December, a furious can- 
nonade raged outside the town, making a most 
terrific din, though still several miles away. It 
told us that the French were making a determined 
stand. Early in the morning our Ambulance, 
minus Tilghman, Mackellar, Hayden and myself, 
quitted Orleans, and went on to the battlefield. 
We four were left behind to receive the wounded, 
as well as to look after those who were already 
on our hands. I had been under orders to go ; 
but Dr. Warren, who was burning to be in the 
thick of it, asked me to effect an exchange with 
him ; and I consented to the arrangement, subject 
to the necessary permission of our chief My 
friend had never been among the bullets ; and 
great was his anxiety to receive what Louis 
Napoleon called in a famous despatch, the "bap- 
tism of fire ". As I had a great deal of useful 
work to do, I was quite willing to stay. After 
my late experience, curiosity alone, without the 
call of duty, never would prompt me to go again 
into a battlefield ; but I had had my baptism. As 
regards the success of this expedition, I may add 
that, when they arrived on the scene of action, 
they found the French were fighting in retreat, 
and there was no possibility of establishing a 
temporary field Hospital. They had, therefore, 
to content themselves with bringing home as 
many of the wounded as they could accommodate 
in their waggons. 



254 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxii. 

The description which they gave of the 
slaughter was fearful. The Prussian artillery 
had raked the French lines through and through 
before their eyes ; and Dr. Warren confessed 
to me that, short as was the time they had been 
on the battlefield, he had seen sights so horrible 
that the recollection of them would haunt him till 
his dying day. 

Long before the return of our comrades, we 
became aware that the French must be fighting 
in retreat, by the extended convoys of provision 
and baggage waggons, that streamed down the 
Rue Royale and across the Loire. For upwards 
of ten hours the baggage, provision, and ammu- 
nition train of the French army continued to pour 
across that bridge in unbroken succession. It was 
a sight to fill one with amazement ; one could 
hardly believe that it was not all a dream. 

In the middle of the day, while going to see 
some of my wounded who were quartered in a 
neighbouring street, I met a convoy of - Prussian 
prisoners being hurried along by a detachment of 
marines. They must have been some time in the 
hands of the French, for they looked thin and 
worn ; and it made my blood boil to see the malig- 
nant delight which beamed in the faces of the 
townsfolk as they scanned these famished and 
half-frozen wretches passing along. 

But an hour later, I witnessed in the Rue 
Jeanne d'Arc a scene, the novelty of which, to 



CH. XXII. ALGERIAN SPAHIS. 255 

my mind, was without a parallel. Moving down 
the street towards me at a slow hand-gallop, — al- 
most at a walking pace, — came a troop of African 
cavalry, from the borders of the Sahara. I don't 
know that anything had ever excited in me so 
much curiosity as did the sight of these Spahis ; 
and a more strange and wild-looking collection of 
men and beasts it would be impossible to con- 
ceive. They halted opposite the Cathedral, so 
that I had ample time to take stock of them. 
The townspeople displayed as much astonishment 
as I did, and flocked after them in crowds, just 
as if they had been the outriders of some great 
circus. 

They were tall, fine-looking men, with bronzed 
faces, but of various tints, some light, some almost 
black, some handsome, others square-faced, and, 
one had almost said, ugly. There were those 
among them who had well-chiselled features, with 
dark eyes, and so piercing a look as to give one 
the idea that they could see right through one. 
Their outer dress consisted of long-flowing mantles 
in white flannel, which trailed along the ground 
when they dismounted, and were fastened over 
one shoulder, somewhat after the fashion of the 
Roman toga. This garment, however, had 
attached to it a hood and a short cape. On their 
heads I saw what appeared to be a high coil 
of whitewashed rope, entangled in the hair, which, 
so far as I could judge, they wore long. This 



256 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxii. 

coil was looped up about their head-dress like the 
ordinary turban. The hood, of which I have 
spoken, was partly drawn up over the turban or 
coil, just far enough to catch the apex, and the 
whole appeared as if each man carried on his head 
a small turret. Add to these details, a lean, ugly, 
big -boned, square -hipped, straight -shouldered 
Arab horse, with a wooden frame set on a large 
pad for a saddle, and having a high piece going 
up behind, so as to reach half-way up the rider's 
back. The whole thing looked more like a di- 
minutive chair than a saddle. The girths by 
which it was secured passed round saddle, horse 
and all. Wooden shoes came out at each side, 
with strips of hide for stirrups ; there was a strong 
crupper behind, and blinkers w^ere set on the 
bridles of untanned leather. It was, I think, the 
oddest specimen of an equestrian turn-out that 
ever showed on a European battlefield. 

These men are supposed to be about the best 
riders in the world. As they moved, on, I re- 
marked that they all rocked in their saddles in the 
most curious fashion, and thrust out their toes in 
tailorlike style. They each carried a musket about 
the length of one's arm, a brace of pistols, and a 
sword, which did not look like a sword, it was so 
much bent. Yet this is their favourite weapon. 
I could well imagine an enemy being taken aback 
when he approached these mysterious foes, and 
beheld their grim dark faces peering through a 



CH. XXII. YOUNG HEROES. 257 

small loophole at the top of a tower of white 
flannel. They certainly had more the resem- 
blance of cowled monks than of a troop of cavalry, 
and might have been introduced by Sir Walter 
Scott in Ivanhoe, as Moslem Knights Templars. 

When I had seen this curious sight, I went on 
my way to look after a captain of the Garde 
Mobile, who was shot through the foot, and a 
young corporal of the Line, shot through the left 
lung. The latter was a very bad case, not likely 
to recover ; the ball had descended in the cavity 
of the chest, and the air which the poor lad was 
breathing entered and escaped through the per- 
foration. Presently, a boy of about sixteen came 
in, the friend and companion of the dying 
corporal. He had but a few minutes to remain, 
and in this short time he learned from me that his 
friend's wound was mortal, and that he must now 
bid him a hasty farewell. The parting scene be- 
tween them was most touching, for they were 
attached comrades. 

Among the number brought in to-day by our 
ambulance was one who came under my charge, 
and whose case was of interest by reason of his 
tender years. He was a fine lad, only seventeen, 
and had served in the Garde Mobile. He had 
been shot through the leg ; but the principal 
cause of his lamentation was not his wound ; it was 
that he had not fired a shot the whole day, nor 
even so much as got a chance of bowling over a 
17 



258 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxii. 

German, though all the while shells and bullets 
were falling about him like rain, and dealt whole- 
sale destruction on his company. The account 
which he gave of the fighting outside was terrible; 
it seemed to have made a deep impression on his 
imagination, yet did not in the least take from 
his courage. He told me he had not eaten for 
twenty-four hours. How, I often said to myself, 
could soldiers fight, who were habitually suffering 
from hunger, cold, and fatigue, like these poor 
fellows ? 

All this time the ground literally shook from 
the conflict which was going on outside the town. 
I think that, as an artillery fight, it was second 
only to Sedan. 

It had been freezing very hard every night, 
and snow was lying deep on the ground. 

If people at home (and there are some 
who talk much around their comfortable fires 
about going to war on every paltry provocation) 
could have seen the waggon-loads of . half-frozen 
wounded which were brought in to us on the night 
of the 4th, and those again who lay outside the 
town without assistance, their wounds uncared for, 
and exposed to the bitterly cold night air, how 
soon they would change their idle tone ! how they 
would loathe and abominate the very name of 
war ! 

I can understand that men find a pleasure in 
studying the art of fighting, as they do in playing 



CH. XXII. VIEW OF THE BATTLE. 259 

a game of chess ; and I have allowed In my own 
case the fascination which even its horrid reality 
is capable of exercising over one. But for the 
man who deems it a pleasure and a glory to use 
the science of war as a weapon wherewith to 
annihilate thousands of human beings, for the 
delusion called "prestige," or in the game of 
politics, I would have him to know that it is a 
foul and monstrous thing, full of hideous suffering, 
cruelty, and injustice, with nothing to redeem 
it, save the courage whereby such miseries are 
endured. 

However, let me go on with my proper theme. 
Immediately the darkness set in on the 3rd, the 
cannonading ceased. This night we snatched 
but a few hours' sleep ; for, at the first dawn of 
daylight, a repetition of yesterday's performance 
began with redoubled vigour. From the belfry 
tower of our church, during the past two days, we 
had been able to get a fair idea how the battle 
was going. It commanded a fine view of the coun- 
try around. But now that the Germans had driven 
the French back on the outskirts of the town we 
could see much more of the contest. Early on the 
4th we beheld the whole cavalry, numbering about 
3000 men, come down the Rue Royale and pass 
over the bridge on the Quai du Chatelet, — some 
at a swinging trot, others at a gallop. It was a 
rare sight, for here were represented men of every 
regiment In France — Cuirassiers, Lancers, Chas- 



26o WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxii. 

seurs d'Afrique and the rest. This host of armed 
men and horses, extending as far as the eye could 
reach (which was certainly half a mile), formed a 
coMp d'ceil not easily forgotten ; and the clatter 
they made on the pavement, during their stampede, 
was loud enough to have been heard far outside 
the town. 

Towards evening I availed myself of a few 
minutes' leisure to ascend the church tower and 
watch the battle, which still continued. The roar 
of the fighting, which was now going on in the 
vineyards and entrenchments at the end of the 
Faubourg Bannier, baffles description. The 
heavy French marine guns were all going simul- 
taneously, while on each side of the town the in- 
fantry also were in close conflict. Quite near us, 
at the end of our own Faubourg St. Vincent, just 
where the convent stood in which Miss Pearson 
and Miss McLoughlin were at work, the fighting 
seemed heaviest. On some portion of the ground 
that was not so thickly covered witb vineyards, 
the dead were strewn in heaps, many being the 
victims of their own mitrailleuses which the 
Germans had captured, and were now using with 
more precision and deadly effect than their original 
possessors. But all this time, the French, though 
retreating, kept up a continuous and well-directed 
fire upon the advancing Prussians, whose losses, 
as we afterwards discovered, were quite as great 
as those of the vanquished. 



CH. XXII. A ROMANTIC INCIDENT. 261 

This they attributed themselves to the great 
tact and abihty which the French marines dis- 
played in the management of their heavy guns. 
But for these, indeed, as I have heard the French 
say, it would have been difficult, if not impossible, 
for them to have covered the retreat of their 
army. 

The sun shone brilliantly that afternoon of the 
4th, and the arms and accoutrements of the con- 
tending forces were flashing brightly, as they 
moved about among the vineyards. In the 
distance we could see in several places the field- 
artillery galloping along in different directions, 
wheeling" round suddenly, and stopping, when the 
little puffs of smoke told us their reason for doing 
so. But these reports were lost in the general 
tumult of the battle. One or two more repetitions 
of these little puffs, then a limber-up, and a dash 
ahead as before in their onward course, only to 
repeat the same manoeuvres further on ; such were 
the tactics which, as from a box at the theatre, we 
repeatedly noticed, standing in the belfry of Ste. 
Euverte. 

And here I may mention an incident witnessed 
by Drs. May and Tilghman. There was a hot 
contest being waged close to the Hospital, among 
the double rows of trees on the Boulevard St. 
Vincent, when, in the midst of the confusion, a 
young lieutenant of the Line was seen stepping 
out from a house just beside the church. He had 



262 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxii. 

gone but a few paces, when a young girl rushed 
out after him and took a last embrace, after which 
he moved quickly out of her sight. But evidently 
he was not yet out of the mind of the young girl ; 
for she stood as if rooted to the spot, gazing after 
her lover, heedless of the bullets which were 
whistling past, and of the storm of the battle 
raging round her. In another moment, May 
and Tilghman realised her frightful situation. 
May sprang over the paling which was between 
them, but arrived only in time to receive her 
bleeding and senseless into his arms. A spent 
bullet had struck her between the angle of 
the eye and the cheek bone, and had stripped 
back the soft parts of the side of the face as far 
as the ear, with a portion of the scalp. 

The wound, though not so very dangerous, — 
for the bone of the head was only grazed and not 
broken, — was, nevertheless, an ugly one. The 
girl was at once taken into her own house, where 
May and Tilghman skilfully adjusted the torn 
portions of the scalp by a neat operation, bestow- 
ing on the case every attention in their power. 
It will doubtless be gratifying to my reader when 
I tell him that this girl made a splendid recovery. 
I had the privilege of watching her convalescence 
in the absence of Dr. May. Nor was she much 
disfigured ; for, in consequence of the prompt 
treatment, the parts united admirably, leaving an 
almost imperceptible scar, which was, however. 



CH. XXII. RETREAT OF THE FRENCH. 263 

sufficiently well marked to remind her of that 
romantic, but perilous, moment at Orleans. Love 
is proverbially blind. In this case, love was blind 
and deaf too. 

I was kept hard at work in the Hospital, and 
could steal only a moment to observe the stirring 
scenes which were" going- on around. Each new- 
comer brought with him, in addition to his own 
sad story, a list of harrowing details from the 
day's battlefield. But things were all going one 
way. Early in the afternoon, the main body of 
the French army had fallen back upon the town. 
The Germans had gained possession of the two 
principal approaches of the Faubourgs Bannier and 
St. Vincent, and had already demolished numerous 
buildings on the outskirts. They did not, how- 
ever, shell the town itself, as we feared they were 
on the point of doing ; and when night set in, 
there was a temporary armistice. Both sides, by 
mutual consent, desisted, on the understanding 
that the bridges were not to be blown up. 

Now it was that the whole French army com- 
menced their hurried march across the Loire, by 
the pontoon bridge, and the two permanent ones. 
It was a bright, still, moonlight night, and nothing 
was to be heard but the trampling of feet, as that 
mighty host hurried along. I stood at the corner 
of the Quai du Chatelet and watched them. 
Some of the regiments, which had happened to 
lag behind, doubled down the Rue Royale, but 



264 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxii. 

they marched over the pontoons at the regulation 
pace. 

Not a word was spoken, — an unusual state of 
things among Frenchmen, — and all, as they well 
might, seemed dispirited. Some of the men had 
no arms ; many had lost their kepis ; and all 
showed visible signs of having lately seen hard 
times. Tired, at length, of watching them pass 
in that unbroken stream, I went to my quarters 
at No. 64 on the Qual hard by. 

I had hardly entered, when my attention was 
called by the tramp of feet on the pavement out- 
side the open window. On looking out, I beheld 
what appeared to be the remains of several regi- 
ments. Most of them were without arms, and all 
went limping along, evidently quite foot-sore, while 
numbers were slightly wounded, to judge from 
various bandages, which they displayed round 
their heads, legs, and arms. They looked more 
like a procession of Invalids out for a w^alk, than 
soldiers still capable of fighting. The poor 
fellows were dead beat, and did not so much 
march as shuffle along, some In a tottering con- 
dition, and lagging behind the rest, having 
evidently done as much as was In their power. 

But what was my rage and indignation, when 
a captain. In the rear, who carried in his hand 
not a sword, but a thick cane, belaboured 
with It, again and again, any unfortunate who 
did not keep up with the rest ! One of these 



CH. XXII. CROSSING THE LOIRE. 265 

poor fellows made a sign to me for something to 
drink. Swiftly as possible, I seized a large can of 
water which stood beside the window, and poured 
It slowly on the footway. Several that were near 
put their mouths under the little jet, and then 
began a sort of scramble for what one of them 
told me he had not tasted during fourteen hours. 
But their gallant leader, having dealt half a dozen 
blows at random with his stick among this thirsty 
crowd, dispersed them, indulging the while in strong 
language, and gesticulated at me In the most 
excited manner. How^ever, the frame of mind I 
was In — to say nothing of my safe position — 
made me equal to the occasion. I complimented 
him on the able style In which Monsieur le Mare- 
chal used his bato7i ; and he slunk away, mutter- 
ing curses, as he did so, at me and his men. 

This piece of excitement over, I went to the 
pontoon bridge, where the stream of soldiers 
continued to pour across. Although I had been 
on duty the previous night and all that day, I 
could not but stay up to watch this historic and 
interesting spectacle, — the retreat of 200,000 men, 
composing the whole Army of the Loire, across 
that river. It was now nearly eleven o'clock, and 
they had been passing for hours. But the living 
current flowed on unceasingly during the night, 
until the last of the troops w^ere over. When 
this had been accomplished, then the silence of 
the frosty scene was broken by the sound of 



266 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxii. 

hammers, hatchets, and saws; and the air resounded 
with the hacking and the chopping of the sappers, 
who were busily engaged cutting the moorings 
and the cross planks, while others set fire to the 
bridge in about a dozen places. Just at the 
same hour, there was a great tramp and rattle of 
horses and waggons over the permanent bridge 
to our right, caused by a number of batteries of 
artillery, which galloped furiously onwards in head- 
long career. They were the last of the fugitive 
army. The battle of Patay had been lost and 
won. 

Now the Loire was much flooded, and the 
blocks of ice borne down in the current were very 
large, so that when the different sections of the 
bridge were cut loose, — and, later on, when they 
became again subdivided, as well as during the 
process of freeing themselves, — the grating, groan- 
ing, creaking, and crashing of one against the 
other, and also against the great blocks of ice, was 
unlike any other sound I ever heard. Moreover, 
every raft of boats and planks formed the base of 
a pillar of fire, which brilliantly illuminated the 
snow-covered slopes, the trees, and the ice-bound 
banks of the river, — reflecting in the water above 
and below us, as if in a looking-glass, the arches 
and the battlements of two of the finest bridges 
in France, which now stood out, in all their 
architectural beauty, relieved against the pitchy 
darkness of the night. 



CH. XXII. THE BURNING OF THE BRIDGE. 26/ 

As each of these burning sections of the pon- 
toon became disconnected from its fellow, it turned 
round on its own axis, and staggered about in the 
river for a short time, until finally, having arrived 
in mid stream, it swept down with the current, — 
making a loud grating noise as it struck the ice 
blocks, — and at last with a tremendous crash was 
hurled against the mighty granite bulwarks of the 
bridge. There it either became a total wreck, or, 
being broken up into fragments, swirled hither 
and thither till it passed out of view. It was a 
strange and magnificent spectacle, unequalled by 
anything I have seen before or since, in the 
combination of light and dark, the enormous 
power displayed, and the gigantic ruin upon 
the waters. 

When I was taking a last look at all this 
before retiring to rest, a number of soldiers came 
up, intending to cross over ; but they found the 
bridge demolished, and themselves cut off from 
retreat. 

These, I heard afterwards, were some few 
hundred men, inclusive of the Foreign Legion, 
who formed the rear guard of the army, and had 
got lost in the darkness. They neglected to avail 
themselves of the railway bridge nearest them, 
which, like that in our neighbourhood, was also, 
during this night, taken and guarded by the 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

FIGHTING IN THE STREETS. — THE TOWN CARRIED BY 
ASSAULT. — NARROW ESCAPES. — THE RED PRINCE 
ENTERS WITH HIS WHOLE ARMY. 

Overcome by fatigue and excitement, I had thrown 
myself on my bed just as I was, and never stirred 
until daylight, when Warren awoke me with the 
news that fighting was going on in the streets. I 
rubbed my eyes and went to the window, when, 
to my utter astonishment, I beheld six Prussians 
confronting about fifteen Frenchmen. They had 
come upon the latter by surprise round a corner, 
and the French looked at first as if they were 
going to fire ; but, on seeing a large body of 
Prussians advancing under cover of the trees, they 
lowered their rifles, and coolly stacked their arms 
not twenty paces from my window. The six 
Germans, meanwhile, quietly stood round them 
with fixed bayonets. In another minute they 
were walking off up a by-street as prisoners. 

All this came upon a man who had been just 

awakened rather by surprise ; but, when I heard 

some desultory firing in different parts of the town, 

I made up my mind that we were to have hot 

(268) 



CH. XXIII. FIRING IN THE STREETS. 269 

work in the streets. Having performed a hasty 
toilette, I saUied forth, eager not to lose the sight 
of what was going on. I had not proceeded many 
yards up the Quai, when I perceived a body 
of Prussians stationed near the bridge at the end 
of the Rue Royale. Seeing these drawn up in 
battle array, and finding myself the only person on 
the Quai du Chatelet, I paused for a moment or 
two, and looked down in the other direction 
towards the railway bridge. There I beheld a 
goodly number of Frenchmen, ranged over against 
the church of St. Aignan at the other extremity of 
the Quai. Thinking that this looked like business 
I remarked to Dr. Warren that we were in an 
awkward position, and had better retire. The 
words were no sooner out of my mouth, and we had 
only just stepped back into the hall, when a volley 
of bullets whizzed along by us in the direction of a 
French officer, who was galloping across the bridge 
at that moment. Some of the balls must have 
gone very close to him, for he ducked his head 
repeatedly behind his horse's neck and redoubled 
his speed. Shot after shot went after him until 
he lay quite fiat on his saddle. How he rushed 
the guard on the bridge was a mystery I could 
never solve; but that he did escape I can certify. 
This was the signal for a general fusilade. 
The Germans at the end of the Rue Royale, advanc- 
ing on the bridge, knelt down behind the parapets, 
so that we could see nothing but the spikes of 



270 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxiii. 

their helmets and the muzzles of their rifles which 
glittered in the morning sun. The French answered 
from behind the trees on the Quai, and from the 
corners of the by-streets. We now perceived 
that a company of Prussians were advancing in 
single file down the Quai towards us, and were 
entering the houses. This was more than we 
could stand. So slipping out of No. 64 up the 
nearest lane, we ran out by the rear into our 
headquarters at No. 66. 

Here we found Dr. Parker, who had just been 
out in another part of the town, but was very 
nearly seeing and experiencing more than he had 
bargained for. In going up a side street off the 
Rue Bourgogne, he found a sharp cross-fire 
opened from each end of the street, and as the 
bullets struck the wall beside him, he had to 
take refuge in the doorways, in order to escape 
them. The company of Prussians, to whom I 
have already referred, were still advancing slowly 
in our direction ; and a brisk return fire ^was kept 
up by a small knot of French at the other end. 

The manner of the Prussian advance was 
peculiar. First went four sappers, who in one 
second broke through each of the doors which 
did not happen to be open. These carried 
hatchets, handsaws, jemmies, and crowbars ; and 
it was marvellous how short a time they took 
to enter, and how they made the timber fly like 
match-wood. Our gate was thrown open, and in 



CH. XXIII. OUR HOUSE CAPTURED. 2/1 

due course a number of men filed In one by 
one from the next house. Three of them went 
through the form of searching the place, while the 
remainder, about a dozen in number, were ordered 
out, two by two, to kneel on the footway and 
fire at the enemy. When they had done so, they 
withdrew until their turn came round again. The 
house was speedily filled with smoke, for the 
soldiers crouched close into the wall, and remained 
almost inside the porch. 

The necessity of this proceeding was soon 
apparent. For in another minute bullets came 
hitting the wall beside the door, and sent the 
plaster flying into my eyes, while I was craning 
my neck round the jamb of the open door to see 
what was going on. Luckily, they glanced off 
the flags a couple of feet away from where I 
stood. 

The leaden pipe, which ran down beside the 
entrance, was now riddled in various places ; 
our old English flag, which hung down over the 
door from a long pole above the window, was like- 
wise torn ; but I have it in my possession yet. 

We were at the highest pitch of excitement 
while all this was going on. Prompted by curiosity, 
I went upstairs, and looking out from one of the 
windows, saw standing in the middle of the street, 
exposed to all the fire, a German Captain of the 
Line, coolly giving, or rather shouting, his orders 
to the various non-commissioned officers and 



2/2 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxm. 

soldiers, who lined the walls or manned the door- 
ways above and below us. I expected every 
moment to see him fall. Amongst the French, 
who were replying persistently from their position 
at the end of the Quai, I espied one Zouave in 
particular, who fired five or six shots at this 
officer. I felt satisfied that it was at him he 
aimed, for he singled himself out from his 
comrades, and crept on his hands and knees 
to the middle of the roadway, taking a deliberate 
shot, and we could not perceive that there was any 
one else in the direct line of his fire. When the 
Zouave had discharged about the sixth shot, a 
ball from the Prussians tumbled him over on his 
back with his legs in the air ; but for all that, he 
was not killed, as he scrambled away with the aid 
of a companion. A thud and a splutter of the 
plaster on the wall just beside me, suggested the 
advisability of curtailing my observations ; so I 
shifted my quarters to the hall below, where I 
found Dr. Parker giving some of the , Prussians 
a nip of brandy, — in order, as he jocosely re- 
marked, to put a twist in their powder. I knelt 
down behind one of the men at the doorway, as 
he was taking aim at the Frenchmen, and looked 
over the sight to see where his game lay. He 
fired, and, as he did so, a ball struck the pavement 
above five yards from where he and I were 
kneeling. 

It was a regular business of sharp-shooting ; 



CH. XXIII. SECOND CAPTURE OF ORLEANS. 2/3 

for a head, or a head and a pair of shoulders, were 
all we could see of the enemy. 

In the midst of the practice great commotion 
was caused by an old woman appearing on the 
Quai. For a few seconds firing was suspended ; 
an officer came out into the middle of the street 
and made signs to her to retire, which the ancient 
dame speedily did. What she meant by coming 
out thus, it would be vain to conjecture, unless she 
was stone deaf She was clearly no Jeanne d'Arc. 

In a short time the French, seeing that they 
had no hope of making good their retreat across 
the bridge, ceased firing. A flag of truce went to 
them from the Mairie, stating that the town had 
been in possession of the Germans since midnight ; 
and they had better yield. They laid down their 
arms ; and the town of Orleans, as we had all 
along anticipated, was once more in the hands 
of the Prussians. It was eight o'clock in the 
morning of 5th December. An hour passed, and 
the Prussians came marching in, the bands playing 
their most lively strains ; and we found ourselves 
among our old acquaintance. 

The first step which the invaders took was to 
get together all their prisoners, numbering 10,000, 
and shut them up in the Cathedral. 

Of course, the minute we were free to do so, 
we all got off to our work at Ste. Euverte, where 
we already found many of our old friends awaiting 



274 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxiii. 

The little Captain Schrenk was there ; also the 
young ecclesiastic of whom I have spoken ; and, 
later on in the day, the giant cuirassier stalked in, 
gorgeously arrayed in scarlet and gold, and seek- 
ing for his hidden cuirass. They shook hands 
with us over and over again, exhibiting unmis- 
takable satisfaction and pleasure at finding we 
were still at our posts, and safe and sound. 
Surgeon-General Von Nussbaum paid us a visit, 
and complimented us on the manner in which we 
had stood by their wounded during the French 
occupation. In fact, congratulations rained down 
on all sides ; and from this time forward the Ger- 
mans looked upon us as their staunch and trusty 
friends, giving us notice that in due time our 
services would be officially remembered. The 
wounded now began to pour into the town, and 
our Hospital church was quickly crowded, together 
with every house in the vicinity. 

At eleven a.m. we went to our quarters for 
breakfast ; but hearing that the entry ^ of Prince 
Frederick Charles's troops had commenced, I 
snatched a few mouthfuls, and hurried off to 
witness the scene from a window in M. Proust's 
house, No. 12 Rue Royale, with which I was to 
be more intimately acquainted ere I left Orleans. 

The troops entered with bayonets set, flags 
flying, bands playing, and all the pomp and cir- 
cumstance which are usual on such occasions, and 
the air resounded with a storm of military music. 



CH. xxiii. ENTRY OF THE RED PRINCE. 2/5 

It was noteworthy, indeed, to see that host pass 
by, consisting of 130,000 as fine-looking men as 
any country in the world could produce ; and 
what was most astonishing about them was the 
neatness and cleanliness of their dress, the bright- 
ness of their arms and accoutrements, and their 
general well-dressed appearance, reminding me 
more of our handful of soldiers at home, as they 
marched past the Lord Lieutenant in the Phoenix 
Park on a field day, than of an army that had 
been fighting all the past week, and had endured 
the privations and hardships of a six months' 
campaign. 

The sun shone through the frosty air, and, 
as the mist had now cleared off, the helmets 
and bayonets of that mighty array flashed and 
glistened everywhere. While these sturdy, well- 
built and well-fed fellows passed on, I compared 
them mentally with the regiments I had seen 
straggling onward to the bridge. The difference 
spoke eloquently in favour of that elaborate and 
admirable scheme of military organisation which 
had brought them to such a degree of perfection. 
It also elicited from a British officer who 
was with me at the time, a remark that, unless 
we ourselves take up some more comprehensive 
system of organising our forces, we shall be 
thrashed by this ambitious race of soldiers the 
first time we come into conflict with them. Nay, 
more, it is possible that they might invade and 



2/6 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxiii. 

overrun England in a short campaign, should they 
ever become as great adepts in the art of war on 
the high seas as they are on land. 

Many of the German officers whom I have 
met were of opinion that such an enterprise was 
not beyond the scope of German ambition and 
German energy. More than once 1 heard them 
anticipating that the result of their victorious 
career would be to bring all the nations of Europe 
under the wing of their Imperial eagle. And 
though willing to allow that England would be 
the last to come in, since without a mighty fleet 
they could not get at her, yet she too must share 
the fate of her neighbours. It amused, — perhaps 
it angered us, — to find these highly intellectual 
men of the world holding such views, gravely 
arguing among themselves and with us, that such 
would be the inevitable result of a united Ger- 
many, and that all she wanted to annex Europe, 
and carry out the ideas of Alexander the First 
of Russia, was a little time, and a ^favourable 
opportunity. 

The army of Prince Frederick Charles, now 
marching through Orleans, was on its road to 
Blois, and in pursuit of General Chanzy. Turning 
from this splendid sight, I went back to St. 
Euverte ; and there spent the remainder of that 
day — and a long day it was — in assisting at the 
operation-table, and dressing and attending to the 
wounded who were brought to us in crowds. As 



CH. XXIII. MISERY OF THE INHABITANTS. 277 

we had only accommodation for 250, we were 
obliged to send out into the houses of the Rue 
de St. Aignan all who were not seriously 
wounded ; after which we still found it necessary 
to lay a number of those who were gravely 
wounded on the floor, with straw under them. 
These latter were not at all so badly off, when we 
consider that some half score waggon-loads of 
men had to remain out in the frost and snow for 
a whole night and part of the next day, so greatly 
did the demand exceed the supply of accommoda- 
tion in Orleans just then. To add to their misfor- 
tune — and I am speaking literally of hundreds, — 
there followed a great scarcity of bread, which 
was felt chiefly by the civil population, and by those 
quartered on them. It did not affect the garrison 
in the least ; for their commissariat never failed. 

An army entering thus, devours, like a swarm 
of locusts, in a few hours everything that is eat- 
able in a town, and leaves the inhabitants nothing 
but what they can supply from their secret 
stores — which, however, they always manage to 
reserve. The condition of chronic hunger, from 
which the inhabitants of Orleans suffered for 
several weeks at this period, was truly distressing 
to witness. 

By noon on the 6th of December, all was 
quiet again, the garrison had been billeted in 
their quarters, the sentries were at their accus- 
tomed posts, and everything in Orleans betokened 



2/8 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxiii. 

the return of the old orderly i^giine, to which we 
had been so long accustomed. There was an 
entire absence of that wild disorder, and noisy 
confusion, which had lasted, not for hours but for 
days, after the French took possession of the 
town, and which I have endeavoured to describe, 
but have not adequately depicted in the words 
at my command. And thus began the second 
German occupation of Orleans. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

DESECRATION OF THE CATHEDRAL. — MY FIRST CAPITAL 
OPERATION. — MORE FIGHTING. — WOUNDED BA- 
VARIANS. 

Soon after the mayor had Issued his parlemen- 
taire, all the French prisoners, to the number, as 
I have said, of 10,000, were marched into the 
Cathedral, where they were confined until such 
time as preparations could be made for their 
transport into Germany. 

As the weather was bitterly cold, the prisoners 
^it will be remembered that they were French 
and Catholic — began at once to break up the 
chairs and benches with which to make fires. 
These they kindled at the base of the great stone 
pillars for which the Cathedral is celebrated. 
Towards evening, as I happened to pass that 
way, I saw the men and lads warming themselves 
at these great blazing fires, that lighted up the 
whole edifice, the roof of which, however, could 
scarcely be seen through the wreaths of thick smoke 
that formed a dense cloud overhead. It was an 
ungodly spectacle, the more so that many of the 
(279) • 



28o WITH AN AMBULANCE. 



CH. XXIV. 



men sang and joked, while one amused himself 
at the organ. 

I confess the scene was very disagreeable to 
me. Every now and then one of these fellows 
would lay hold of a chair, and with one blow 
shatter it in pieces against the tiles or the nearest 
pillar, and then cast the fragments into the blaze. 
There they sat, smoking, eating, and drinking, — 
what little they could get to eat and drink, — cursing 
Bismarck and the Emperor, and rehearsing that 
oft-told preposterous lie, how universal treachery 
was the cause of their presence there that night. 
I stood for some time looking on at a display 
which, if curious, was still more revolting. The 
stalls of the Sanctuary, which I had seen a few 
days previously graced by the canons and other 
dignitaries who surrounded Monseigneur Dupan- 
loup, during the pomp and splendour of the 
Episcopal ceremonies, and at High Mass, were 
now filled with the vilest of the French soldiery, 
some of whom lolled about at their leisure and 
conversed together, while others, overcome by 
hunger and fatigue, were lying fast asleep all over 
the church. On the steps of the High Altar 
fellows were stretched out in deep slumber, and 
not one appeared to regard the nature of the place 
in which they were quartered. The lines of fires 
down each side of the building, the din and the 
confusion to which this herd of men gave rise, 
and the manner in which they seemed to be 



CH. XXIV. PRISONERS MARCHING AWAY. 28 1 

swarming about all parts of the Cathedral, as the 
light of the fires glanced on them, made an extra- 
ordinary combination, and one might have fancied 
that the age of Gil Bias had returned in the 
nineteenth century. 

For two days the Cathedral was possessed by 
this motley congregation ; then the prisoners were 
sent off in batches by train from Orleans, and we 
were glad to get rid of them. Their destination, 
as usual, was over the Rhine. 

I met one of these convoys on their way to 
the station. They were marched, or rather driven 
along, before half a dozen mounted troopers ; and 
when any straggled or fell behind, these put spurs 
to their chargers and rode in amongst their cap- 
tives, in some instances trampling them under the 
horses' feet, and lashing them with their riding 
whips in the most wanton manner. The sight 
was enough to make one's blood boil. Had any 
one told me of such a thing, I should have received 
his statement with caution, if not with distrust ; 
but I relate that of which I was myself an eye- 
witness. When I had cooled down a little, I 
consoled myself with the idea that such was the 
treatment which these very Germans received at 
the hands of their own officers and under-officers, 
while going through their training and their drill, 
as I have already testified from personal observa- 
tion. They gave the French, therefore, only 
what they had been treated to themselves. 



282 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxiv. 

During the whole of the 6th and 7th, and the 
intervening night, we were hard at work in the 
Hospital, the greater part of our time being taken 
up at the operation table, I may here mention 
a fact, which is highly interesting to me, viz., that 
now, by permission of our chief, I performed my 
first capital operation, in a case of compound 
comminuted fracture of the bone of the arm, which 
I had to amputate below the shoulder. Nor were 
the circumstances of the place in which I went 
through my task, of a common sort. It was 
Sunday morning ; and the operation table stood 
in a side chapel, at the foot of the Lady Altar, 
not many yards from* the Shrine of Ste. 
Euverte. But although one's first impressions 
might be that such work, on such a spot, was a 
profanation, yet on second thoughts it will not 
appear so. The deed, though sanguinary, was 
not cruel ; and where should the wounded find 
refuge if not under the sacred roof.^ 

On the evening of the 7th, we received intelli- 
gence that the Germans had come up with the 
French army ; that fighting had begun ; and that 
a general engagement was expected. Accord- 
ingly, Dr. Tilghman, with May and Mackellar, 
started with a supply of surgical appliances and 
waggons for bringing the wounded off the field. 

I was set down for work at the Hospital, and 
did not go with them. But Dr. Tilghman subse- 
quently gave me a full account of the whole affair, 



CH. XXIV. BATTLE OF BEAUGENCY. 283 

and described the carnage as very great. The 
town of Beaugency and the neighbouring villages 
were literally crammed with wounded ; and they 
had hardly any one to look after them, and but 
very little to eat. Jn fact, so scarce were pro- 
visions that many sank from privation alone, 
aggravated, indeed, by the bitter cold, which just 
at this time was intense. He mentioned, among 
other ghastly details, that owing to the hard frost, 
the bodies of the slain were glued to the ground, 
while their clothes were so hard and stiff that it 
was impossible to move the dead from where 
they lay. 

Dr. Tilghman returned on the loth with his 
conf7^eres, bringing some waggon-loads of wounded. 
That the fighting about Beaugency had been 
severe I could discern from the appearance 
of all that was left of the Bavarian army, which 
returned to Orleans about the 14th. Jaded and 
fatigued, spattered with mud, with their uniforms 
in some instances torn, and their plumes lost, they 
trudged sulkily and silently into the town. About 
8000 of all ranks had survived of the 30,000 men 
that left Germany. They, too, like the French, 
were a contrast to their North German brethren 
in arms. But, as usual, they had been set in the 
forefront of the hottest battle ; they had everywhere 
borne the brunt against vastly superior forces ; and 
had in the end conquered, though at the expense 
of half their numbers. From the beginning of 



284 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxiv. 

the war this had been the inevitable fate of the 
Bavarians ; they were butchered to make the new 
German Empire. 

In return for these heroic services, the 
Prussians affected to look down on them ; they 
snubbed them openly ; and took pains to hinder 
rather than to cultivate a friendly feeling between 
themselves and their Southern allies. I have seen 
quarrels take place in private houses where 
Prussians and Bavarians were billeted together, 
simply because my lords of Brandenburg disdained 
to share their quarters with King Ludwig's 
men. Such bickerings went from words to 
blows, in which the hearty ill-will of both branches 
of the great Teutonic race to one another became 
only too visible. 

In the week which followed the battle of 
Beaugency, nothing happened worthy of special 
record ; we were always at work from day- 
light to dark, and fresh convoys of wounded 
were brought in daily from that neighbourhood. 
When one has such an absorbing subject of 
interest as the routine of an Ambulance, from 
its very nature, and especially after a severe en- 
gagement, the days pass like hours. So it was 
with us ; for, except an occasional few minutes 
which we spent in listening to the splendid 
military bands that performed every day in the 
Place Jeanne d'Arc, we had litde to divert our 
minds from our business. There is, however, a 



CH. XXIV. HENRY SCHROEDER. 285 

matter of interest connected with the battle of 
Beaugency that I will ask leave to set down 
here. 

The nth Prussian infantry regiment, serving 
under the Red Prince, had suffered severely, and 
were nearly decimated on the 8th December. 
Six of these men came under my care. One of 
them gave me the following history of a most 
dangerous bullet wound, which he had received 
through the upper arm. His name was Henry 
Schroeder, under-ofhcer ( Unter-officier) in that 
regiment, and he spoke French fluently and 
English intelligibly. He was advancing with 
his company along the skirts of a wood, in the 
face of a most murderous fire from the French, 
and his men were falling on all sides, when he 
perceived two of these, whom he knew to be 
rascals, edging away from the rest into the wood, 
with the clear intent of shirking their duty, and 
endeavouring to screen themselves from the fire. 

He sent a soldier to them with this message, 
that he would have them shot forthwith, unless 
they returned to their places. Not many minutes 
had elapsed, when, in the confusion and heat of 
a charge, as they were bursting along in the 
open, he received a bullet from behind which 
felled him to the earth. A single glance made 
him aware that these two miscreants were at his 
back, but were now hard at work against the 
enemy. 



286 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxiv. 

This poor fellow, of whom we shall hear more 
later on, eventually succumbed, at home in Ham- 
burg, to his wounds. He died with the firm 
conviction that it was one of these two villains 
who had shot him, though, of course, no one could 
prove it against the man. 

Just about this time it happened that I got 
permission from Dr. May to amputate a thigh 
midway between the hip and the knee. As I 
was on the point of making the first incision, who 
should walk up to the operation table but Pro- 
fessor Langenbeck, of Berlin ? This great person 
had come into the Hospital to glance at our 
surgical work, and to observe the manner in 
which we treated his Imperial master's subjects. 
For a moment, the presence of perhaps the 
greatest military surgeon living, and the father 
of German field surgery, made me very uncom- 
fortable. However, I regained my self-possession 
pretty quickly, and was fortunate enough to get 
through the operation without a hitch or mis- 
adventure, receiving at the end a gracious bow, 
and a " Seh^ schon, 7nein Herr,^^ from the old 
veteran, who diligently smoked a cigar all the 
while. I need hardly add that my confreres had 
a great laugh over the incident, and at my sudden 
exhibition of panic, which they assured me was 
quite evident. 

In our Hospital we made, as far as possible, 
an equal division of labour, by allowing to each 



CH. XXIV. ARREST OF PRATT AND HOZIER. 287 

man so many beds. Though I was only an 
assistant surgeon by promotion, 1 had practically 
the position of surgeon and not assistant, havino- 
the sole charge of my division, which consisted 
of all the beds between the pillars and the wall 
down the middle aisle of the Church, and numbered 
about thirty-three. It must be remembered that 
these beds were occupied by none but the gravely 
wounded, and that we had under our charge 
numbers of others, placed out in private houses 
through the town, along with those who were 
billeted in the houses just outside the Church. 
These last were under the same management as 
those in Ste. Euverte itself. 

About the i8th December an incident occurred 
which caused some stir among our circle. Mr. 
Frederick Wombwell, who had started the pre- 
vious day for Versailles to bring back medical 
stores, arrived with the intelligence that Dr. 
Pratt and Captain Hozier had been arrested in 
Etampes. It seems that they had met Captain 
Keith Eraser and the correspondent of the 
Illustrated London News, as also the corre- 
spondent of the Pall Mall Gazette, on their way 
to Versailles, and that whole party fraternised 
and dined together at the hotel. The Prussian 
Commandant's suspicions were aroused by this 
convivial meeting of foreigners, and he prompdy 
placed them under arrest. Captain Hozier and 
Dr. Pratt, after a day's detention, were allowed 



288 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxiv. 

to return to Orleans ; but Captain Fraser and 
his two companions were sent on to Versailles 
under a heavy escort of dragoons, at which place 
they were liberated without delay. 

Just about this time, also, there was much 
excitement caused by the arrival from Kiel of two 
hundred sailors to man the gunboats on the Loire, 
which had been captured from the French. 
These bearded tars were fine, burly fellows, and 
to judge by their rollicking spirits seemed to enjoy 
the prospect of the job before them. 

Another week elapsed in the old routine, 
w^ithout any stirring events having come to pass, 
and we found ourselves on the eve of Christmas, 
but with nothing to remind us of its approach, 
save the snow, which lay more than a foot deep 
on the ground, and the intense cold of the weather. 
It was freezing so hard, both in and out of doors, 
that the water in the jug and basin of my bed- 
room became almost a solid mass. 

The manner in which we spent Christmas Day 
may be described in five words, — it was all hard 
work. Nevertheless, we contrived in the after- 
noon to have a good dinner, and a little jollification 
over a blazing fire in our quarters on the Quai. 
The custom of Midnight Mass, so impressive in 
Catholic countries, had been this year abrogated 
by the Bishop's order. And there was no re- 
ligious service for our wounded, though all had 
been arranged with a view to it. I ought not to 



CH. XXIV. BISHOP DUPANLOUP. 289 

omit the reason, which was hardly, in my judg- 
ment, a sound one. The hour fixed for Mass 
was 7 A.M. It came to pass, however, that when 
in the morning the old Cure learned that the 
Protestant Chaplain had been before him, and 
had preached a sermon to his Protestant brethren 
from the pulpit, he straightway refused to 
begin his own service. I confess I was much 
scandalised at this unreasonable exhibition of 
bigotry. Under the circumstances, I hold, the 
Protestant Chaplain only did what it was perfectly 
right and proper that he should do. And I ex- 
pressed that opinion pretty strongly to the Sisters 
of Charity, and the Cure himself, who was referred 
to me as the only Roman Catholic on the staff 

However, we dressed the Church with holly 
and ivy, and had a Christmas tree in the middle 
decorated with ribbons. We likewise gave each 
man a flannel shirt and a pair of drawers, which 
were looked upon by them as most appropriate 
and acceptable Christmas boxes. 

Friends have asked me since how much I saw 
of that famous Bishop Dupanloup, and what was 
his line of conduct during the German occupation. 
I can but reply, that I never saw him in the city. 
All the while he remained shut up in his palace, 
the greater part of which had been converted into 
ambulance wards, despite a vehement protest from 
the cathedral chapter. But their protest did not 
avail ; and when the very churches had to serve 
19 



290 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxiv. 

as hospitals for the wounded, and accommodation 
was everywhere less than sufficient, I do not 
know that even a Bishop's palace could have been 
exempted from so plain a duty of love and com- 
passion towards the suffering, whether friends or 
foes. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

CHRISTMAS DAY AT STE. EUVERTE. — GOING THE 
ROUNDS. — YOUNG HEROES. — ARRIVALS DURING 
THE NIGHT. — A GLIMPSE OF THE DEAD-HOUSE. 

I HAVE not, SO far, given a description of our new 
Hospital, nor any particulars in connection with 
individual cases ; and I cannot do better than sub- 
mit to my reader a revised copy of some notes I 
made while on duty that Christmas night. These 
may furnish a tolerable idea of the nature of our 
work, and of such reflections as the time and 
place suggested to me. 

The Church of Ste. Euverte at Orleans is a fine 
old Gothic building, in the style of the twelfth 
century. Its exterior would present few interest- 
ing details, except for the crumbling granite walls, 
and the ancient carved portals, on which the hand 
of time may be plainly traced. The interior also 
is devoid of ornament ; but the rich stained glass 
in the windows is not likely to be equalled by any 
attempt of our modern artists in the same line. 

The nave is about 300 feet long, and broad in 
proportion, while the plain vaulted roof springs 

lightly from the massive pillars which support it. 

(291) 



292 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxv. 

The High Altar is of granite, as well as those in 
the chapels, and they in nowise relieve the cold 
stern appearance of the building. It had now 
become the third Hospital which we of the Anglo- 
American Ambulance had set up in this hotly- 
contested city. 

It was late on Christmas Eve that I repaired 
to the Church, and took my turn of night duty. 
The night was bitterly cold. It had been freezing 
for weeks, and the snow lay deep and crisp 
underfoot. Let me describe what followed in the 
present tense. 

As I approach the long narrow street, at 
the end of which the gloomy mass of buildings 
can be seen through the darkness, I hear the 
steady pace of the Prussian sentinel who keeps 
guard before the gate. The dim light of a lantern 
hanging above the door shows my uniform as I 
pass, and the soldier, checking his half-uttered 
"Halt!" salutes. The door is opened by a 
Zouave, who also salutes ; but this time, in French 
fashion. He is an old Mexican campaigner, and 
wears, among other decorations, the war-medal 
given by his now deposed Sovereign, who is spend- 
ing Christmas at Wilhelmshohe, a broken exile. 
He swings open the heavy, studded oak door, 
and I enter. I pause for a moment to contem- 
plate a scene, the misery and pain of which none 
could realise who have not beheld it. 

Along the central aisle, to the right and left, 



CH. XXV. A CHRISTMAS GATHERING. 293 

are double rows of beds, each with its suffering 
occupant. On every pillar hangs a lamp, one to 
every four beds. Precisely the same arrangement 
has been made along the side aisles. 

Between every fourth and fifth pillar a stove 
is burning, with the bright and cheery blaze of a 
wood fire. Thus a dim light is cast over the 
beds of the patients, but not sufficient to penetrate 
the gloom of the lofty roof Impressive as the 
sight is taken as a whole, the deep interest which 
it excites is heightened by the thought that every 
one of those 300 beds bears its wounded sufferer, 
and that each sufferer could tell his own long 
history of privation and pain. 

Assuredly the saddest congregation that this 
old Church has ever held ! Around the stoves are 
huddled knots of soldiers, French and German, 
whose common affliction has changed bitter foes 
into sympathising friends. These are men whose 
wounds are comparatively light ; and who, poor 
fellows, for five or six days have not enjoyed the 
privilege of a bed. They lie in all postures around 
the fires, trying to sleep, — a difficult task with a 
broken arm, wrist, or rib, or with severe flesh 
wounds ; and they have no covering of any kind, 
and only a little straw and the hard flags to rest 
upon. 

Passing along the lines of beds are Sisters of 
Charity, who administer every comfort they can, 
arrange the patients' beds, smoothe their pillows. 



294 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxv. 

and whisper words of solace and consolation. In 
the stillness of the Christmas night the tones of 
agony and suffering echo through the Church, 
which for centuries has resounded at that hour 
with the grand and solemn music of the Midnight 
Mass. What a comment on the words of the 
" Gloria in Bxcelsis,'^ in which these Christians 
say they believe! '' Et in terra pax hominibtts 
boncB voluntatis!' Man, I cannot but observe to 
myself, thou art as much a scandal as a mystery to 
the reflecting mind ! 

I begin my rounds, visiting first the more 
urgent cases. To some of the greatest sufferers 
I give morphia in pills, or else introduce it in 
solution under the skin, by means of a syringe 
with a sharp perforated needle affixed. The 
effect is wonderful. In a few minutes they are 
out of pain, and fall asleep quietly. In this manner 
I am compelled to silence those whose groans 
would disturb the other patients. I now go on 
in succession, stopping at every bed to satisfy 
myself as to the condition of its occupant, giving 
medicines when required, arranging bandages 
here and there, and soothing with hypnotics those 
whose wounds prevent their sleeping. 

This done, I repair to the sacristy, which 
serves the purpose of a surgery and a waiting- 
room, and read before the fire for an hour, when 
I return to the Church to see that all is right, and 
that the infirmarians are awake and at their posts. 



CH. XXV. THE BOY- VOLUNTEER. 295 

As I Stand In the Sanctuary and listen, I can hear 
the heavy tread of the watchers pacing to and 
fro : nothing else, save the heavy breathing of the 
sleepers. What a change in less than two hours ! 
The cries of pain are silenced, and the restless 
day of suffering is succeeded by a night of calm 
repose ; — a pleasant sight for the surgeon, and one 
which is entirely due to that friend of humanity, 
so long as rightly administered, — the drug opium. 
To be prepared, however, for emergencies, I 
return to my room, and lay out my instruments so 
as to be ready for an operation if necessary ; 
secondary hemorrhage, and such-like mishaps, 
being of frequent occurrence. 

Were such an accident to take place, I have 
but to send for my "sleeping partner," Dr. May, 
whose quarters are next door ; and who is only 
bound to be present when sent for by the respon- 
sible officer on duty for the night. Thus as the 
hours advance, and my previous hard day's work 
begins to tell upon me, I grow sleepier every 
moment, and am soon nodding in my chair before 
the fire. But I have scarcely become unconscious 
when I am roused by an mfinnier, who tells me 
that two men are awake and in their intense 
agony are creating a disturbance. I rub my eyes, 
shake myself together, and proceed to see them. 

The first I come to is a young Prussian artillery 
volunteer. He is only sixteen, a mere boy, with 
large blue eyes, fair soft complexion, and fair 



296 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxv. 

hair, and, though stoutly built, has very white 
and delicate hands. His graceful and engaging 
manner, and his developed mind, show that he is 
of a good German family. Yet he is but a private 
soldier. What has induced him to leave his home 
and country at such an age ? Two reasons alone, — 
hatred of the French, and a thirst for glory. Poor 
boy ! his leg has been shattered by the fragment 
of a shell. His large tearful eyes turn to me 
as I approach his bed, and a kind smile comes 
over his face, so pale and worn with suffering. He 
takes my hand, and begins his sad story, — of a 
kind familiar enough by this time. He tells me 
that the pain from his wounds has become in- 
supportable ; that he can neither eat nor sleep ; 
that every day makes him thinner and weaker ; 
and that he thinks he shall not last long. With 
as favourable a forecast as I can muster up, I try 
to cheer him, and give the poor fellow hopes 
which I fear can never be realised. I bid him go 
to sleep. I give him some morphia to help that 
consummation, wish him good-night, and leave 
him. 

My next patient is a subject of special interest 
to me. I received him some weeks ago into my 
ward, suffering from a comminuted fracture of the 
leg ; in other words, the limb was very badly 
crushed. He gave me to understand that he 
came of a respectable and wealthy family in 
Wiesbaden. He was the only son of his mother, 



CH. XXV. DEATH IN THE NIGHT. 29/ 

and the last of his name ; and in saving his Hfe, I 
should save his mother's too, for he believed that 
she would not survive him. 

Never did I see a man cling more passionately 
to life, and never had one stronger motives for so 
doing ; but never again did I see a man so ill and 
yet so incredulous of his danger. Now in the 
stillness of this Christmas niorht I come to his bed- 

o 

side to see him die. For days and nights I have 
helped him all in my power ; I have denied him 
nothing that I could give him ; and he has always 
been so gentle and affectionate that every trouble 
I took for him was truly a pleasure. He speaks 
French and English fluently, is a graduate of the 
University of Bonn, and is young and good- 
looking. All through his illness he has had one 
thought in his mind, and that was his mother. He 
now complains of excessive weariness and pains 
in every part of his body. He is an Evangelical, 
and at my request the clergyman had visited him 
late that evening. I speak to him in a low voice, 
and tell him that I fear he is not better. It ap- 
pears that his last efforts at speaking have been 
too much for him ; he is now too weak and pros- 
trate to do more than gasp out something about 
his mother, home, and Fatherland. Now his lips 
quiver, now they cease to move, and a cold sweat 
stands out in large beads over his face. I smoothe 
his pillow and wipe his forehead, as I had often 
done before. 



298 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxv. 

This makes him alive to the fact that I am in 
my old place at his bedside. He takes my hand, 
presses it feebly in his, looks earnestly into my 
face, and becomes again unconscious. By this 
time several of the Sisters and one or two of the 
infirmarians have assembled around the bed of 
the dying man. For some minutes the brave 
fellow remains motionless ; his breathing becomes 
shorter and shorter ; when suddenly he starts con- 
vulsively forward, and makes an effort as it were 
to rise ; his eyes, which are now fixed and glassy, 
stare out with a vacant expression, and he falls 
back heavily a corpse. As we gaze for a second, 
the old tower clock strikes the hour, the sentinel 
on watch cries out in reply to the challenge of his 
superior officer who is on his rounds, " One 
o'clock and all's well ". Yes — all is well, — only a 
poor soldier has given up his life into the hands 
of his Maker, for his country's cause. One more 
German mother has lost her son, — one more 
German heart is desolate. 

Not many minutes elapse before the fair youth 
of yesterday is lifted on a brancard, or stretcher, 
and conveyed to the dead-house. Here the bearers 
tumble the body on the cold shiny floor and leave 
it until morning, when the mayor's cart will 
convey it and the other lifeless remains in that 
ghastly chamber, to the brink of a deep pit at the 
back of the church, and into that they will be 
roughly heaved. A little quicklime will be 



CH. XXV. PRO PATRIA MORI. 299 

thrown in, then a Httle earth ; and the burial 
ceremony is over. Thus the scene closes for 
this brave lad, who was my friend as well as my 
patient. '^ Dulce et decorum est^' wrote Horace. 
Here is the reality of that boast. 

Having seen that all is quiet again, I return to 
my fireside in the sacristy. When I am once 
more in my cosy chair, the details of what I have 
witnessed, — to such scenes, — alas, I am now accus- 
tomed, — pass from my thoughts, and are replaced 
by others of a different and more agreeable nature. 
The little bunch of holly which is set above the 
Tabernacle on the High Altar reminds me that it 
is Christmas morning ; the glow of the burning 
wood brings before me the recollection of that 
bright fireside at home across the water ; and as 
my eyelids gradually close, many a v/ell-known and 
much loved face appears before me as if to cheer 
me in this solitude. 

I have slept thus for nearly two hours, when 
my pleasant dreams are put to flight for the second 
time by the infirmarian of the watch, who tells me 
in an excited manner that a young Bavarian 
soldier is bleeding profusely from the mouth, and 
cannot live if I delay many minutes. I despatch 
a messenger in haste to call Dr. May ; and an- 
other second takes me to the bedside of the dying 
man. 

This patient, a young Bavarian, has been shot 
through the open mouth. Curiously enough, the 



300 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxv. 

ball had traversed the substance of the tongue 
from apex to base, and had buried itself in the 
back of the throat, from which position it has 
hitherto been impossible to get it removed. 

At once I compress the common artery of the 
neck with my thumbs, and while thus supporting 
him, kneeling up behind him in bed, I am able for 
the time being almost to stop the blood completely. 
But when I look into the basin that is placed 
beside me on a stool, I perceive to my horror that 
it is half full of what appears to be pure blood. 
I now ask the infirmarian why he had not made 
me aware of the fact, and called me sooner. He 
answers that some five minutes previously the 
sick man had sat up in bed, and had been, as he 
thought, very sick in his stomach. By the ex 
tremely faint light he had not perceived that what 
the sick man was ejecting was blood. Immediately 
upon discovering the true state of things, he had 
come for me. 

In a few minutes Dr. May arrives ; but he and 
I are both too late. The man becomes ghastly 
pale, and writhes as if in a fit, then he is still for an 
instant, and sinks heavily and without life into 
my arms. 

A momentary feeling of sadness comes upon 
me, while I gaze on the remains of that unhappy 
young man, the victim of such an awful, such an 
unnatural death ! But I must quickly repress my 
feelings ; I have to see that these sleepy fellows 



CH. XXV. FRESH ARRIVALS. 3OI 

remove the body, change the bedding, and clean 
the blood from the floor, so as to make way for 
another, who will at once occupy the place that 
has been thus left empty. 

This done, I pass round to the bedside of the 
young soldier whom it will be remembered that 
I visited first. His dreams of glory are now at 
an end ; for he sleeps the sleep that knows no 
waking. Doubtless his spirit is at peace. What 
would his mother feel did she know that her son 
had died this lonely death in a dreary place, with 
no hand save mine, that of a stranger, to wipe 
his brow ! When he, too, has been consigned to 
the dead-house, I return as before to the sacristy, 
where I take another interval of rest. 

Between four and five o'clock the infirmarian 
awakes me for the third time, to say that there is 
a waggon at the gate with three wounded who 
are begging earnestly to be admitted. I have 
only two vacant beds ; the third was occupied 
already by a bad case which had been lifted from 
the floor. I order two of the arrivals to be brought 
in. Upon examination I find that both have 
been badly frost-bitten in the feet. One, indeed, 
showed me half his foot almost black and simply 
rotting off. Their tale was a fearful one. They 
had been wounded, — one in the hip, and the other 
in the fleshy part of the thigh — in a skirmish 
about a fortnight before, near Beaugency. Over- 
come by loss of blood, each had dragged himself 



302 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxv. 

into a thicket — for the spot was a lonely one in 
the open country ; and there they had remained 
in terrible frost and snow, during the whole night 
and part of the next morning. Some peasants 
discovered them, and they were removed to a 
cottage several miles distant. Here they had 
remained until now without surgical treatment ; 
and hence their miserable condition. 

Their sufferings are not to be described ; and 
I administer at once a hypodermic injection of 
morphia, which gives them speedy relief. Then I 
go to see the remaining occupant of the cart. 
By a gleam of the lantern I perceive that his leg 
is badly fractured ; and the blood which oozes 
through the bandages, and trickles down the 
mutilated remains of his trousers, indicates that 
matters have not been improved by an eighteen 
miles' journey over rugged country roads. The 
sight of this famished and half-frozen unfortunate, 
whose agony is increased by the bitter cold of 
the winter night, and his pitiful supplication to be 
let in, determine me at once to make out a place 
for him. This is the work of a minute ; for I 
know of a comparatively light-wounded fellow 
whom I can dislodge from his bed, although he is 
sound asleep and does not want to be stirred. 
The garments of the new-comer are, some stripped, 
some cut off him; and he is put into the bed which 
is still warm from its late occupant. A hot bowl 
of bouillon is swallowed down with avidity ; to 



CH. XXV. END OF MY WATCH. 303 

the fracture I adjust a temporary splint, for he 
is much too weak to undergo an operation. A 
sleeping draught is given, and I leave him to 
enjoy some hours' repose. 

Once more I satisfy myself that all is right, 
the fires burning up, and the men on duty at their 
posts ; and as I yawn, and stretch my weary limbs 
in the arm-chair again, I find it difficult to imagine 
that it is Christmas Day. 

Another walk round the Hospital, and dawn 
is here at last. Soon after I repair to a neigh- 
bouring house, where I address myself to a large 
bowl of cafe-au-lait, and a loaf of bread, with some 
Liebig's extract of meat. This accomplished, I 
return and find our staff assembled, making ready 
for the day's work. I give in my report to the 
chief, and immediately set about attending to my 
own wounded. 

I never felt the long watch In the least Irk- 
some, nor did the others. At ten I assist my 
seniors during two amputations and a resection. 
One of the amputations Is our arrival of the 
night, who last occupied the waggon : a consulta- 
tion has just decided the fate of his limb. 

The operations being over, I return to my 
men, and work away, with the assistance of two 
male nurses and Sceur Berthe. The Sister is a 
native of Luxemburg, as bright and active as 
possible, and my great mainstay. At three my 
work Is finished, and in our house on the Quai I 



304 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxv. 

get a good substantial dinner. But I must still go 
back to Ste. Euverte, and wait the expiration of 
my term of duty. 

On looking into the dead-house to make 
sure that my poor friends of the night, with their 
companions, had been committed to the grave by 
the Mayor's officials, I perceive that one is still 
unburied, probably because the dead-cart was full. 
It is the young soldier, on whose sad end I have 
dwelt, I hope not too insistently. I felt very sorry 
for him. Our affection in that short space had 
grown to be that of brothers ; for we were, after 
all, only boys together. I shall miss him even in 
the stir and excitement of these unruly times. But 
I can do no more. Dr. Mackellar comes to take 
my place, and my watch is at an end. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

VISITORS. — NEW YEAR IN HOSPITAL. — THE CHURCH 
EVACUATED. — I GET FURLOUGH, — AND CATCH A 
NIGHT-GLIMPSE OF PARIS. 

Christmas week passed away, and we had any- 
thing but a pleasant time of it. The frost and 
cold were so intense that it was with much difficulty 
we could keep ourselves sufficiently warm to enable 
us to do our work. About this time we had 
several visitors at our quarters. They were 
Captain Brackenbury, of the Royal Artillery, 
Prussian Military Attache ; Captain Frazer, also 
of the Artillery ; and Colonel Reilly, French 
Military Attache, — the last of whom had been 
captured in Orleans on the morning of 7th 
December, by the Prussians, and kept there ever 
since. He was now ordered with an escort of 
Uhlans to the frontier. We had a great laugh 
when he walked into our place on that unlucky 
/th ; and related how^ on awaking, he found to his 
surprise that the town was in the possession of 
the Germans. It was certainly not pleasant for 
him. 

We had also with us Major de Haveland, a 
20 (305) 



306 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxvi. 

knight of Malta, and, as I was informed, the only 
English member of that order. It is well known, 
however, that the knights of St. John are divided 
in their obedience ; and I do not believe that 
the Grand- Master, who lives in Rome, would 
recognise many who in England are spoken of as 
Maltese Knights. The major, I presume, was of 
the Roman Obedience. Two members of the 
press were our guests, Mr. Mejonelle of the Daily 
Telegraph and Mr. Holt White of the Pall Mall 
Gazette. The former, who was an artist, made 
sketches also for the Graphic. He has given a 
representation of Ste. Euverte, in which several of 
us figure. The day I was showing him round, 
there was a dead soldier laid out on the High 
Altar, wrapped up in his sheet, with nothing but 
his head and toes to be seen. He had been 
taken out of one of the beds beside the Altar 
immediately after his death, so as to make room 
for a fresh occupant, and merely laid there while 
the infirmarians were arranging the bed. The 
sight struck our guest forcibly, as it could not fail 
to do ; it was most uncanny. 

These gentlemen expressed their satisfaction 
at the way in which everything was carried out at 
Ste. Euverte, and the clean and decent condition 
in which we kept the Hospital, despite the 
presence of almost every circumstance which 
could militate against cleanliness and order. 

Another couple of days, and we found our- 



CH. XXVI. LE JOUR DE L'AN. 307 

selves celebrating the obsequies of the old year, 
and welcoming, after the fashion of heathens, the 
advent of the new, by partaking of the unlimited 
supply of rum punch, which nigger Charlie served 
up. I have already praised it. 

On the evening of New Year we dined to- 
gether, and toasted not only our noble selves, but 
our respective countries, homes and friends ; en- 
deavouring to feel as happy as possible in the 
midst of occupations which demanded good spirits 
as the best way of keeping up our health and 
courage. It would be unfair to nigger Charlie if 
I forgot his most eloquent and humorous oration, 
delivered in choice Virginian or negro dialect, in 
reply to the toast of his health which Colonel 
Hozier proposed. The most remarkable portion 
of it was, perhaps, that in which Charlie exulted 
over the former wealth and greatness of Dr. 
Pratt's family, as large slave-owners ! What could 
a Declaration of Independence do for such feudal 
enthusiasm as this ? 

The weather continued bitterly cold ; and 
Henry Schroeder, the sub-lieutenant whom I 
mentioned as having been shot at Beaugency by 
one of his own men, asked me as a favour to find 
quarters for him in some private house in the 
town. After much trouble I heard, by accident, 
that at the convent of Notre Dame des Recouv- 
rances, the superior, Mere Pauline, desired much 
that the cloisters, dormitories and schoolrooms 



308 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxvi. 

which the convent possessed, should be occupied 
by our Ambulance. The Sisters were afraid lest 
the Germans should establish in their house an 
Ambulance of their own, to which the nuns highly 
objected. 

But the fact that Mere Pauline was an English- 
woman, in great measure accounted for her anxiety 
to have us. I need hardly say that I did not want 
much pressing ; at once I had Schroeder, Rudiger, 
and four or five others, removed into their new 
quarters, and took formal possession in the name 
of the Ambulance. 

Here, in good beds and warm rooms, with every 
care and attention paid to them, and good food to 
eat, they were very snug and comfortable — a 
pleasing contrast to the cold, dreary church which 
they had just left. I appointed one nurse, Soeur 
Leopoldine, to look after these men, whose 
number, in a few days, I increased to ten, so that I 
had quite a hospital there, though on a small scale. 

The patient named Rudiger, a young fellow 
of seventeen, and a volunteer, whose leg was 
fractured, became a particular favourite with his 
nurse and with Mere Pauline. He had not a hair 
on his face, which was of a ruddy hue, and wore a 
perpetual smile. He spent his time mostly in 
learning the French Grammar, a task in which he 
was helped by Soeur Leopoldine during her spare 
moments. Most of the others were Bavarians, 
and, I must say, a sleepy uninteresting lot. 



CH. XXVI. A CHEERFUL PATIENT. 3O9 

Schroeder was the son of a wealthy tobacco 
and wine merchant in Hamburg. He had one 
brother, who was captain in an infantry regiment. 
Their mother was still living. He told me with 
pride that he had supplied Bismarck with many a 
cigar ; and promised me a case of them and a barrel 
of oysters, when he returned. Poor fellow, he 
little knew what was coming ; for at this time he 
was comparatively strong, and, in the opinion of 
many, out of danger. But, from my conversations 
with him, I learned that his family history was very 
bad ; and from the first had grave misgivings about 
his case, which, however, it was my duty to dis- 
guise from him. When, occasionally, without 
being able to help it, I looked serious, he used 
only to laugh, and chaff me, singing, in the most 
comical way possible, the well-known English 
ditty, " Champagne Charley is my name ". I 
liked Schroeder. 

I now put two of my men from Ste. Euverte 
into No. 44 Rue de Bourdon Blanc. They were 
Martin Dilger, my old patient — the survivor of 
the railway-shed — and Jacob Venheiser. There 
they received the kindest care and attention from 
their good host and hostess, M. and Madame 
B . 

By 4th January I had removed all my worst 
cases into private quarters in the town ; leaving 
only about a dozen in the church, all of which 
were now on the high road to convalescence, and 



3IO WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxvi. 

fit to be removed to Germany by the next ambu- 
lance train. On this happy disposal of my patients 
I had greatly to congratulate myself; for just now 
pyaemia and hospital gangrene of the worst type, 
showed themselves in the church ; and we knew 
from our experiences at Sedan and the railway 
station how sure they were to be attended by 
terrible results, where such a number of wounded 
were kept together. 

And so it proved now. In a few days, blood- 
poisoning made great havoc among the men, and 
its victims lay piled one above another in the 
dead-house, — truly a sorry sight for those who 
had spent so much care on them ! We determined 
at once to evacuate the church ; for even the 
convalescent were not safe from this dread malady, 
which some of the savants in our profession tell 
us is preventable ; such, however, is not my ex- 
perience. Disinfectants and carbolic-acid dress- 
ings were used unsparingly. Fresh air, as I 
have said, is of paramount Importance In the 
management of this disease ; and it must come to 
the patient in a continuous current, — moreover, 
to be effective, it must be dry air, while about the 
patient it requires to be warm, or at least the 
patient himself must be warm, and at no time 
suffer a chill. Every day the members of our 
staff eagerly sought new quarters for their 
wounded in the private houses of the town, 
which was now not a difficult task, the garrison 



CH. XXVI. HEAVY FINE ON ORLEANS. 31I 

not being very large, for Orleans had ceased to be 
that theatre of war which heretofore it had been. 

As time rolled on, and fresh arrivals did not 
come in, we had more leisure. And well for me 
that it happened so ! I had begun to find the work 
tell upon my health, and now a little relaxation 
was as necessary as it was agreeable. 

During all this time no startling event hap- 
pened, save an attempt that was made by some 
demented person at Orleans to assassinate a 
Prussian soldier. For this offence a fine of 
600,000 francs was levied on the town ; and to 
show the amount of trade which was carried on 
by the French with the invaders, out of this sum 
imposed, 400,000 francs were paid down in 
Prussian money. The fine was demanded on the 
16th, and paid up fully on the 23rd of December. 

Now, as I was daily beginning to feel more 
and more exhausted, and feared my health was 
becoming undermined, I determined to seek leave 
of absence for a few weeks. Dr. Tilghman, who 
was again locum te7ie7is during Dr. f^ratt's 
absence on business for ten days, knew how 
much I wanted a change, and did not hesitate to 
give me leave, under condition that I would 
report myself again before that day month. A 
matter of urgent private business obliged Dr. 
Sherwell to start for Hamburg on the next day, 
and I resolved to get ready that evening, 7th 
Jan., 1871. 



312 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxvi. 

I went with Dr. Fritz to the Commandant of 
the place and the Head Military Surgeon, from 
whom I obtained sick passes all through France 
and Germany, and Railway and Hotel billets 
free. The Northern parts were still in the hands 
of the French, so that I had no chance of getting 
home in that direction. I handed over my cases 
to the care of Dr. Parker, who, with his usual 
good nature, promised to give them his best 
attention in my absence. I made as little as 
possible of my departure to them, merely saying 
that I should be back at the end of some days. 

At six o'clock next morning Dr. Sherwell 
and I were at the Railway Station, where we 
found that a train full of wounded was to be put 
under our charge as far as Corbeil. Our way of 
getting on was a novel one, for we were to be 
drawn by horses the whole distance. After 
much confusion and waiting we started. The 
entire train was composed of goods trucks, in 
which the wounded were laid on straw, using 
their rugs to cover them. There were many 
officers among them who took pot luck with the 
men, for there was no special accommodation. 
Every three trucks were drawn by four horses, 
and thus it was that we took the train to Corbeil, 
— a distance of some fifty miles. 

The morning was bitterly cold, and a dense 
fog hung about, which made it hard for us to 
keep ourselves warm ; but matters mended when 



CH. XXVI. TRAVELLING ONCE MORE. 313 

we came to Artenay, where hot soup and bread 
were awaiting us. 

In one of the trucks sat Martin Dilger and 
one or two other of my patients, all in high spirits 
at the thought of getting back to the Fatherland, 
though minus a limb each. In another carriage 
we had a company of soldiers as an escort to the 
cavalcade, and these made themselves useful 
when required. 

Thus we went along at a snail's pace ; but 
Sherwell and I got out now and then, and ran 
ahead of the train to warm ourselves, for the 
weather did not mend, and many of our charges 
suffered severely from it. During the journey 
I fell into conversation with the sergeant of our 
guard, a mere lad, like so many others, and a 
volunteer. He spoke English well, with hardly 
any accent, and had lived and studied in London 
during the past two years, hence his knowledge 
of the language. He had been at Gravelotte, of 
which tremendous affair he gave me a most 
interesting account. 

He was a gentle youth, with a soft musical 
voice, and plainly of position, as well as education. 
He said that he had been recommended for the 
Iron Cross. Here was the third volunteer I had 
met under the age of twenty, and all three were 
of good social standing. 

There was one old wounded colonel who had 
a large flask bottle of chartreuse, with which he 



314 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxvi. 

repeatedly plied Sherwell and me during the 
journey. I think we neither of us disliked it just 
then. The next stop we made was at Etampes, 
where we remained half an hour to have some 
hot coffee served out. At dusk we had got as 
far as Juviose, where we changed lines, and in 
due time arrived at Corbeil about 8 p.m. Our 
convoy excited notice and wonder among the 
country people in the districts which we passed, 
and in many places they came out in crowds to 
see us go along. When we arrived at Corbeil, 
we called on the Etappen-commandant, got our 
passes checked, and went to the major for our 
billet and rations, — in other words, our requisition 
for board and lodging, which he gave us on a 
very snug well-furnished little house in a central 
part of the town. Having dined off a piece of 
coarse beef and some bread and beer, we strolled 
out for a short time. Next morning we were up 
betimes, and went out to see the town, which is 
a quaint old place. We stood on the ruins of the 
bridge, which we had crossed over on piles and 
planks, in the parts where it had been damaged 
by the French explosion. It formed a pretty 
sight when seen at a little distance. 

What struck me most about the place was 
that all the trade of the town seemed to be in the 
hands of German sutlers, principally Jews, who 
had followed in the footsteps of the army. Few 
of the inhabitants kept establishments open for 



CH. XXVI. AN ODD CONVEYANCE. 315 

the sale of merchandise. In one of these shops 
where we turned in to buy some trifles, we met a 
friendly German civilian, who told us that our 
best route eastwards was by Lagny, beyond Paris, 
— a station some forty miles from Corbeil — which 
was in direct railway communication with the 
Rhine. He added that a convoy of provision 
was to leave at noon for that place, and advised 
us to secure a seat in one of the waggons. 
Accordingly, we found out the conductor, promised 
him a couple of thalers for the lift, and secured 
places in one of the least uncomfortable of these 
vans. It was, by the way, of very simple con- 
struction. The body, made of osier-work and 
tapering to a point, rested on a heavy beam 
which ran lengthwise, and which rested, in turn, 
on the pair of axles, the upper part being sup- 
ported by stays which went from the main ribs of 
the boxes of the wheels ; in short, the whole re- 
sembled a boat resting on a piece of timber, which 
again found support on the axles. Then there 
were twists of osiers overhead, covered with 
canvas which made the thing like a gipsy's tent. 
In this queer turn-out we started from Corbeil, 
drawn by two Dutch ponies ; but, though our 
horses were fresh and spirited, our progress was 
very slow, the ground being as slippery as ice. 
Just before nightfall it began to snow hard, and 
when we came to the hamlet of Brie, our con- 
ductor would go no further. The roughing on 



3l6 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxvi. 

his horses' shoes was worn, and it would be too 
dangerous for us to travel at night on such un- 
endurable roads. 

We got down, therefore, rather unwillingly, 
with our traps in our hands ; and going about in 
quest of lodgings for the night, as fortune would 
have it, we espied at the further end of the village 
a line of waggons similar to that which we had 
just left. Upon hailing the conductor, we found 
that they also were for Lagny, and starting at 
once ; so that again we took our seats, this time in 
a waggon load of hay, which helped to keep us 
warm, or, at all events, prevented us from being 
thoroughly frozen. It was snowing fast, and by 
now was quite dark. We thought the cold fearful. 
As we went along the horses seemed to take it 
in turns to fall ; but sometimes our ponies would 
be down together ; happily, they were not en- 
cumbered with harness, and soon righted them- 
selves. Yet, once or twice it took the united 
ingenuity of us all to extricate them frorn the rope- 
traces, in which their legs had become entangled. 

We had a lantern hung out over the front of 
our waggon, by the dim light of which we were 
barely able to see the road before us. In time, 
to our great relief, the snow-storm, which had 
lasted for hours, cleared up. We had been afraid 
that our steeds would either miss the road, or 
tumble us into a ditch. At one place I got out, 
and trudged through the snow for a couple of 



CH. XXVI. PARIS FIREWORKS. 317 

miles. There was a part of this road turning 
round the crest of a hill, from which we could 
see the flashes from the forts round Paris, and 
hear the booming of the cannon distinctly. Several 
times I saw the little thin streak of sparks rising 
into the sky, which the fuse of the bomb-shells 
threw out on their journey, while sudden flashes 
in the air, followed by a loud report, signified that 
a shell had prematurely burst. 

It was a splendid sight, and resolving to get 
the best view possible, I climbed into an apple 
tree by the way side, where, kneeling on a huge 
bunch of mistletoe, I could see every few minutes 
a shot directed from the forts and one in reply, 
each leaving its comet-like train of fire behind 
it. Though the besiegers and the besieged were 
many miles distant, I could hardly realise that 
they were not close at hand. So little, at the 
time, did I comprehend the magnitude of the 
siege guns, and the remoteness at which they 
could be heard. Much as I should have liked to 
linger on the scene, I could not tarry ; I had to 
come down from my apple tree, and trot along 
until I had rejoined my waggon. Such was my 
second glimpse, and that at night, of the siege of 
Paris. My first, if the reader has not forgotten 
it, showed me the assault which ended in the 
burning of St. Cloud. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

TRAVELLING IN FROST. — AMMUNITION TRAIN IN 
DIFFICULTIES. — FERRIERES. — THE CAMP OF 
CHALONS.— HOW GERMAN OFFICERS TREAT JEWS. 

The snow-storm had given over, but it was freezing 
hard, and the road was now almost impassable. 
Our horses were constantly falling, and we were 
getting on very slowly indeed. At last we came 
to the hamlet of Chivry, — it does not deserve 
the name of a village. We could see no inn ; it 
was stark midnight ; and, except a lonely candle 
in one small cottage, there was not a light in the 
place. At the cottage, therefore, we knocked. 
A regular parley ensued ; and after much explana- 
tion and fair promises, the door was opened by 
an old woman, who admitted us into a warm 
room, as clean and neat as any room could be, 
though everything testified that the owners were 
in humble circumstances. The only other inmate 
of the house, an old man, was in bed. All we 
asked was a cup of coffee, and a mattress to lie 
upon, both of which our hostess readily provided. 
As to eatables, we had brought a loaf of bread 
with us, which we finished without delay, then 
(318) 



CH. XXVII. STEWED RABBIT? 319 

took a pull at our flasks, and so made a meal 
which for my part I relished as much as any I 
had ever eaten. 

Next, divesting ourselves of our outer clothing, 
we threw ourselves on our mattresses, and slept 
a deep and refreshing sleep until seven next 
morning, when we made the acquaintance of a 
well in the yard, at which we performed our 
ablutions, after the manner of professional tramps. 
This done, we notified to the old lady that we 
were still hungry, and asked her to get us some 
bread and meat. She replied civilly that she had 
neither the one nor the other ; — an unpleasant 
piece of news, for we were famished. I enlarged 
to her on our inward sufferings, and at the same 
time slipped four francs into her hand, bidding 
her get as good a meal as she could, and as soon 
as possible. 

This douceur had its effect. Madame, or "la 
bourgeoise," as country-folks say, disappeared, 
only to return with a loaf of fresh bread, though 
a few minutes before I had been assured by a 
peasant that none was to be had for love or 
money. The truth was, that we were taken for 
Prussians, and treated accordingly. xA^fter a 
while, the dame announced that breakfast was 
ready, mentioning that she had a pot of stewed 
rabbit for us, which we set about demolishing 
with the loaf of new bread. As w^e sat devouring, 
neither of us spoke; but morsel after morsel of 



320 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxvii. 

the rabbit disappeared, and we eyed one another 
significantly, for the same horrid suspicion was 
passing through our minds, that this white, insipid 
stuff was not rabbit at all, though what it might 
be we could not guess. Our natural history 
declared it to be cat, but we could not tell, nor 
did we much care. However, I inquired after- 
wards whether rabbits existed in the neigh- 
bourhood, and was assured that never a one 
dwelt within ten miles of it. 

Just as we were wishing ourselves at Lagny, 
who should pass through with his w^aggon, but the 
driver of the convoy with whom we had started 
from Corbeil ? An accident to his waggon had 
delayed him on the road, which was a great piece 
of luck for us ; and we thanked our hostess at 
once for her equivocal, but nourishing breakfast, 
put our traps in the buggy, and drove off. It 
was the loth of January. We found it still very 
difficult to travel, but lest our driver should pull 
up as he did before, we plied him with brandy 
and liqueur out of a stone jar, that I had bought 
at Orleans. In consequence, he was in the best 
of humour all through the journey, and not in 
the least disconcerted when the horses fell or 
stumbled about. 

Some miles of our route lay through the 
Forest of Champigny ; but here the road was 
impassable, for it had thawed during the small 
hours and frozen again, making the causeway one 



CH. XXVII. TRAVELLING ON ICE. 32 1 

solid sheet of ice. Wherever we could we 
travelled along the edges ; but it was dreadfully 
slow work, and the horses themselves, poor 
beasts, were afraid. While we were loitering at 
this funeral pace, I witnessed a sight that I never 
shall forget. We fell in with an ammunition train, 
about half a mile in length, conveying war 
material of all kinds to the positions before Paris. 
Our own waggon we had to draw in among the 
trees for safety, as the horses were falling every 
minute ; and now when we looked along the line, 
we could see as many as ten horses on the ground 
at once. Sometimes two of the animals would 
slip down side by side, and fall again and again 
whenever they attempted to pull on their traces. 
Nay, more, I saw a team of four horses all come 
down simultaneously, not once, but twice. No 
description, indeed, could exaggerate the confusion 
of the scene, — drivers shouting, waggons slipping, 
and horses falling in all directions ; while the 
more their guides interfered the more they fell, 
until the poor brutes became so terrified, that 
they trembled all over from fright. 

The ground w^as amazingly hard. In one 
place I saw a heavy ammunition waggon drawn 
by four horses, when coming down a slight incline, 
slip five or six yards along the road, and then 
glide off into the ditch, without a single wheel 
having turned on its axle. As it was now evi- 
dent that they could not proceed through the 



322 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxvii. 

Forest without inflicting grave and perhaps fatal 
injuries on their cattle, the men began to pick out 
the middle of the road where the horses trod, 
and strewed along it coal dust, which they carried 
with them on purpose. This made the road 
sufficiently passable to allow of the train to 
advance. But, meanwhile, it was about two 
hours before we of the convoy could move, though 
when we did we rattled on at a spanking pace. 
From time to time we met numbers of newly 
organised cavalry, — with droves of horses led 
by halters ; and of these steeds I was ready to 
lay any odds that some were Irish bred. 
Men and horses were on their way to the front 
to replace the maimed, killed, and wounded, and 
to contribute themselves to a similar contingent. 

Early in the afternoon we came to Ferrieres, 
where having dined, so to call it, we paid a visit 
to the splendid chateau of M. de Rothschild. 
Unheeded and unhindered, we roamed through 
this lovely demesne, marvelling at the beauty of 
house and grounds which, as all the world knows, 
would not disgrace the abode of royalty. The 
mansion of cut stone, the terraces with their 
marble statues, the flower-gardens, shrubberies, 
stables, — these last, a wonder in themselves, — all 
were in perfect preservation. Not a stick or a 
stone in the whole place had been touched by 
the Prussians, nor did a soldier set foot in it. 
Such was the good pleasure of William I. 



CH. XXVII. ARRIVE AT LAGNY. 323 

who had taken up his quarters here, such the 
reverence paid to the kings of finance by the 
House of Hohenzollern ! 

We started again on our journey, but had 
proceeded only half a mile, when we fell in with 
a train of siege guns, some of them drawn by six 
horses. They were on the road to Paris, and 
would do service there. I remarked that some 
of the smaller guns were of brass, and shone in 
the sun like gold. 

The country we passed through was 
charmingly wooded, and looked pretty enough 
in its garment of snow. It was night when we 
arrived at Lagny. On demanding our billet, we 
were directed to the sick officers' quarters, in the 
upper portion of the station house, where we 
should find plenty of room. There we came upon 
two of our friends who had been quartered at 
Orleans. They, also, were on their way out of 
France, and we engaged to make a party of it. 
At four o'clock next morning a couple of soldiers 
called us, and at five we started. There were 
several officers in the carriage, from whom 
Sherwell and I received every civility. Passing 
Meaux we arrived at Epernay, and later on 
traversed the great camp at Chalons, which now 
presented a vast and beaten plain of enormous 
extent. By way of V^itry and Chaumont we came 
on to Toul and Nancy, of the fortifications round 
both of which we got an excellent view, in par- 



324 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxvii. 

ticular at Nancy, where we halted for some time, 
and were able to look about us. 

None of these places, however, was of so 
much interest to me as the little town of Luneville. 
I knew nothing of the famous treaty concluded 
there by the First Consul, and had never heard 
of the Court of King Stanislaus, or of Voltaire 
and Madame la Marquise du Chatelet, in connec- 
tion with it ; I simply admired the view. Lune- 
ville is situated on a hill, with some of its fortifica- 
tions overlooking a steep precipice which serves 
as a natural protection for perhaps a third of its 
extent. From the railway which runs along the 
flat country, below the town, it appeared to be an 
impregnable stronghold ; for where nature's pro- 
tecting barriers were wanting, there were huge 
embankments, deep fosses, and steep artificial 
declivities. A picturesque place too. The face 
of the cliff and the old turreted walls were covered 
with ivy, a broad stream ran beneath the hill, 
which on the lowest slope was well wooded all 
round, — and now imagine all this clad in new- 
fallen snow, and you will have as lovely a scene 
as I remember. 

Close to the town we passed a bridge which 
had been blown up, but was now reconstructed 
on timber piles. It had been destroyed, not by 
the regular army, but by a band of Francs-Tireurs. 
This I learned from one of the officers who knew 
all about the place. 



CH. XXVII. ANTI-SEMITES. 325 

I had seen Ferrleres, the palace of a Frank- 
fort Jew, with admiration, all the more that it had 
been respected as a sanctuary by orders from the 
Prussians. Yet it was during this same journey 
that I witnessed an incident in which a Jew was 
the hero or the victim, that filled me with as- 
tonishment, as it may do my readers who happen 
not to be acquainted with the ways of the 
F'atherland. I had frequently heard the Jews 
spoken of by my German friends in language of 
supreme contempt ; but never did I realise the 
depth of that feeling until now. 

In the railway compartment in which I 
travelled, all were German ofificers except my- 
self and one civilian. The latter had got in 
at a wayside station, and sat at the furthest 
corner opposite me. My companions began 
without delay to banter and tease him unmerci- 
fully, all the while addressing him as Lemann. 
He was a small stunted person, in make and 
features an Israelite, and not more than twenty- 
five. The behaviour of his fellow-travellers 
seemed to give him no concern ; as they fired off 
at him their sneering jests, he scanned them with 
his sharp eyes, but did not move a muscle. 

I inquired of the officer next me, who spoke 
English well, how it came to pass that they knew 
this stranger's name. He explained that Lemann 
was the common term for a Jew in their language, 
going on to describe how much the sons of Jacob 



326 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxvii. 

were detested throughout Germany ; and for his 
part he thought they were a vile horde, who laid 
hands on everything they could seize, in a way 
which we English were incapable of fancying. 
The officers, he added, were all getting down to 
have some beer at the next station, and by way 
of illustration he would show me what manner of 
men these Jews were; and as he said the words, 
he took off his hairy fur-lined gloves, and threw 
them across the carriage to our man in the corner, 
remarking, "There, Lemann ! it is a cold day". 
The Jew picked up the gloves eagerly, which he 
had missed on the catch, and pulled them on. 
When we were nearing the station, the officer who 
had thrown the gloves at him, took off his fur rug, 
and flung that also to the Jew. Once more he 
accepted the insulting present, and quickly rolled 
the rug about him. Finally, a third threw off his 
military cloak, and slung it on the Jew's back as 
he was passing out. This, again, the wretched 
creature put on ; and their absence at ,the buffet 
left him for the next ten minutes in peace. 

Presently the horn sounded, and our Germans 
came back. One seized his rug, another his 
cloak, and finally, my first acquaintance recovered 
his gloves by one unceremonious tug from 
Lemann's meekly outstretched fingers. My own 
face, I think, must have flushed with indignation ; 
but the others only laughed at my superfluous 
display of feeling ; and Lemann, shrugging his 



CH. XXVII. WEARING THE PHYLACTERIES. 32/ 

shoulders, — but only because of the sudden 
change of temperature when his wraps were 
pulled away, — took out of his pocket a little book 
with red print, which he began to read backwards, 
and, turning up the sleeve of his coat, began to 
unwind a long cord which was coiled round his 
wrist and forearm as far as the elbow. Every 
now and then he would stop the unwinding, and 
pray with a fervour quite remarkable, then un- 
wind his cord again, and so on till the whole was 
undone. For a time the officers resumed their 
jeering ; but, seeing that it was like so much 
water on a stone, they turned the conversation, 
and allowed the unhappy Jew to continue his 
devotions unmolested till he got out at Strasburg. 
What would these officers have done, had 
they travelled in the same railway carriage with 
M. de Rothschild ? 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

STRASBURG AFTER THE SIEGE. — ALONG THE RHINE. 
— HOME, AND BACK AGAIN TO VERSAILLES. — 
CAPTAIN BRACKENBURY. — I LOSE MY PAPERS AND 
HAVE TO GET FRESH ONES. 

At half-past nine we arrived at Strasburg, and 
were all billeted together in the most central part 
of the town, at a grand hotel, where we had the 
best of living and accommodation. There were 
about thirty officers quartered there, with whom 
we messed. I strolled out in the evening through 
some of the busiest streets. They were brilliantly 
lighted up ; the shops were open, and as much 
bustle and business seemed to be going on, as if 
we were in the heart of a peaceable country, and 
no siege of Strasburg had just taken place. 

However, before long I learned that a large 
section of the inhabitants looked upon the 
Germans with anything but friendly feelings. 

Next morning, 12th January, we went out, six 
in number, to see the town. We visited the fine 
old Cathedral, and hung about it for an hour, 
examining every detail so far as time permitted. 
One of the chief attractions was its famous clock, 
(328) 



CH. XXVIII. EFFECTS OF BOMBARDMENT. 329 

which I was quite ready to admire ; but the com- 
plicated details, and curious performances of this 
wonderful timepiece are too well known to need 
description. When Sherwell and I parted from 
our companions, we went to visit the ruins of 
the great Library and the Theatre, both of 
which were burned to the ground during the 
siege. 

Our dinner in the evening was splendidly 
served, in the French style, and with abundance 
of wines. 

Next morning Sherwell, myself, and two of our 
old travelling companions chartered a spacious 
waggonette, in which we set out, determined to 
see all that we could in and around Strasburg. 
We first drove through that part of the town 
which was destroyed by the besiegers, — sl dreary 
but most interesting excursion. So far as I 
could judge, about one fifth of the suburbs had 
been ruined. When I say ruined, I don't mean 
simply made roofless and windowless, — that might 
have happened in a huge conflagration ; but that 
whole streets were reduced to long heaps of stones, 
with a few yards' interval between, which marked 
where the roadway had formerly passed. Nothing 
could have given a more vivid idea of the effects 
of a bombardment now-a-days. Even where the 
demolition was not so complete, and where 
portions only of the house had been carried away, 
the sight was appalling. Some of the furniture 



330 WITH AN AMBULANCE. 



CH. XXVIII. 



Still remained in its place on the half-shattered 
floors, being too high to reach easily, or not worth 
the trouble and danger of removing it. 

Here was a second edition of Bazeilles, on a 
far more extensive scale. I believe one of the 
best accounts of what took place during the siege 
is to be read in Auerbach's novel on the subject, 
called Waldfried. 

Having wandered for a couple of hours 
through the ruins, we drove outside the town. 
Then we alighted, and one of our party, a captain 
of artillery who had been through the siege, acted 
as our guide, and made all the particulars clear to 
us. Walking along the fortifications, we arrived 
at the immense breach in the parapet which 
sealed the fate of Strasburg. It was of great 
extent, and already hundreds of men were at 
work repairing it ; — but in the interests of Germany, 
not of France, from whose dominion the city had 
passed, for who knows how many years ? Further 
on we saw a second breach, not so wide as the 
other. We now proceeded a considerable distance 
along the parallels and rifle pits, and visited the 
captured French lunettes, which seemed to be 
matters of intense interest to my military friends. 
A curious fact I learned about this siege was, that 
of the garrison in the town a comparatively 
smaller number were killed than of civilians, 
who met their death in the streets by the bursting 
of shells. This I was told by several who had 



CH. XXVIII. ACROSS THE RHINE. 33 1 

been present, and who were likely to be well- 
informed. 

When we had explored the various evidences 
of the mining operations during this memorable 
blockade, it was almost evening. We returned to 
our hotel, overcome with admiration at the skill 
of those who had not only devised, but success- 
fully carried through, these intricate plans for 
approaching, storming, and capturing a stronghold 
with such mighty defences. iVssuredly, the cam- 
paigns of 1870, in the open, and about the historic 
fortresses of France, afford examples of science, 
courage, and endurance which it will not be easy 
to match, and may be impossible to surpass, in 
the future. 

On the 14th, I was up early, went out to 
make some purchases, came home, packed up, 
and set off from the station. We crossed the 
Rhine on the beautiful bridge to Kehl, took our 
seats in a fresh train, and started northwards. 
We went by Karlsruhe and Heidelberg, at the 
latter of which places we halted twenty minutes ; 
and soon after leaving it we found ourselves in a 
hop-growing district, where there was nothing to 
be seen but hop-stacks ; we passed, also, through 
extensive vineyards : but, as yet, had only an 
occasional glimpse of the Rhine in the distance. 

During part of our journey, we skirted round 
steep mountain barriers, which, at times, towered 
above us with their impenetrable masses of fir- 



332 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxviii. 

trees, at others, being thickly sprinkled with snow 
and tipped with hoar-frost, shone resplendent in 
the sunlight, as if silver dust had been shaken all 
over them, while here and there peeped out the 
snow-capped towers of some old castle or baronial 
hall. I do not pretend that these hills would have 
looked anything wonderful, had they not been 
covered with snow, and had not the pellicles of 
ice, formed on the fir trees by a thick fog the 
night before, first run into tears, and then been 
frozen hard, covering the trees with brilliants 
which sparkled in the sun. These decorations, 
indeed, gave them an air of fairyland. 

On arriving at Darmstadt I took leave of 
Sherwell and my fellow-travellers, who were 
going on to Hamburg, and took the train to 
Mayence. It was very late when I got there, 
and I stayed the night at the Railway Hotel ; for, 
having a sick officer's pass, I could break my 
journey where I pleased, which was a great con- 
venience, besides being a cheap mode- of travel- 
ling. I had practically nothing to pay ; my 
sufficient warrant was the pass, stamped with the 
royal seal, which I exhibited to inquiring officials. 

Mayence is not interesting. I went on next 
morning as early as I could, had to wait at Cob- 
lentz and Bonn to allow some special military 
trains to pass, and did not get into Cologne till 
the afternoon. The Rhine scenery, which one 
gets at times from the train, is very fine ; but 



CH. XXVIII. RECALLED TO VERSAILLES. 333 

somehow this was the grand disappointment of 
my journey. It did not come up to my expecta- 
tions ; and I felt far more delight on viewing the 
unrivalled beauties of our own Killarney, and of 
the river Blackwater. But I had not yet gone up 
the Rhine in a steamboat, which is quite another 
expedition than the one I was taking just then. 

From Cologne, which I explored in a few 
hours, I travelled by Aix la Chapelle to Liege. 
At the Hotel de I'Europe my quarters seemed 
comfortable ; but I had no longer a free billet, and 
might consider myself to be now in the enemy's 
country. 

It was the i6th, and I went off to call on my 
friend Vercourt, with whom I spent the forenoon. 
Then by Ostend, London, and Holyhead, I pro- 
secuted my journey, and arrived in Dublin on the 
morning of the 19th, and at home at Scarteen on 
the 22 nd. 

My furlough was made out for a month : but 
eight days after my arrival, a telegram came from 
Dr. Pratt, saying : — 

" I return to-morrow ; go to Versailles as soon 
as possible, find out Ambulance, and join it ". 

I had no alternative but to pack up and start 
next day, which I did by the morning train on 
Jan. 31st. On reaching London, I called at the 
English Society's rooms in Trafalgar Square, and 
reported myself to Colonel Lloyd Lindsay. Mr. 
Pearce, the secretary, made me known to Captain 



334 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxviii. 

Burgess ; and I met there my confrere, Dr. 
Frank, who greeted me cordially, and sent many 
affectionate messages to his former colleagues. It 
will be remembered that Dr. Frank was chief of 
that section of our Ambulance which had a 
hospital at Balan and Bazeilles, and which after- 
wards established itself at Epernay, where it 
worked for some months before disbanding. 

Having got all requisite papers and certifi- 
cates of identification, I started from London 
Bridge for Newhaven. As I was taking my 
ticket I met Captain Brackenbury, who told me 
that he also was going to Versailles to rejoin the 
headquarters of the Crown Prince, that he had a 
private carriage at Dieppe, was going to drive 
all the way, and would willingly give me a seat. 
This kind offer I gladly accepted, and was de- 
lighted to have so entertaining and accomplished 
a host on my journey. At Newhaven, as we 
were crossing by night, we turned at once into 
our berths, and slept until called by the steward 
in sight of Dieppe. 

Going up on deck I found it was a lovely 
morning, warm and genial, and very unlike the 
weather we had been enduring of late. As we 
approached Dieppe in the morning sun, we could 
see the glistening bayonets of the ubiquitous 
Prussian sentries. They were pacing to and fro 
on the pier, in w^hat appeared to us an aggressive, 
not to say, menacing fashion. I confess the sight 



CH. XXVIII. 



I LOSE MY PAPERS. 335 



Startled me : we had the vision of England still in 
our eyes, and these ambitious warriors seemed 
too dangerously near. I felt that I should have 
liked to take them by the collar, and pitch them 
into the sea. I could not help saying to Capt. 
Brackenbury that I felt inclined to ask them what 
they were peering at across the Channel. 

But, as he dryly remarked, their answer might 
be that they were peering at a little island fortress 
on the high seas : — a mere speck in creation 
when compared to the great German Empire 
which had just been proclaimed at Versailles. 
He was in the right of it ; and we had already 
held conversations on this subject at Orleans, 
which I should like to set down, were not my 
space fast running out. 

The carriage in which we travelled from 
Dieppe was a large and comfortable sort of landau, 
from which we could view the country at our 
ease. 

The weather was now mild and bright, the 
snow had disappeared, and our journey became 
a pleasure. But when travelling between Mantes 
and St. Germain, as I was getting out of the 
carriage to walk up a steep hill, I had the mis- 
fortune to lose out of my overcoat pocket all my 
passes, letters of identification and the other 
documents I carried with me. At the gates of 
the Forest of St. Germain, a Prussian non-com- 
missioned officer stepped out, and demanded 



336 WITH AN AMBULANCE. 



CH. XXVIII. 



our papers. I was minus every document which 
would have accounted satisfactorily for my being 
there ; and I should certainly have been arrested 
and sent off to the Commandant of Versailles 
under an escort, had not Capt. Brackenbury 
assured the officer on duty that he had seen the 
papers in question. I had, as it happened, shown 
them to him that very morning. This satisfied 
the guard, and I was allowed to pass ; but I need 
hardly say that I was supremely uncomfortable 
at the case I was in, and thought my journeys 
along the valley of the Seine were always doomed 
to misfortune. Last time the Francs-Tireurs had 
arrested me ; now it was the turn of the Prussians. 

When we reached St. Germain, we dined, in 
spite of my lost papers, and visited the Palace 
and the Bois, from the terrace of which there is 
such a glorious view, away to Mont Valerien 
and one or two other of the forts. As we were 
looking about us, there was quite a stir, bordering 
on excitement among the soldiers. King William, 
now the Emperor of Germany, and the Crown 
Prince, were expected every moment from 
Versailles, and the road was lined with infantry 
and cavalry to receive them. But we waited 
an hour, and his Imperial Majesty did not arrive, 
so we resumed our journey to Versailles. 

There I left Capt. Brackenbury at a private 
house, where he and Dr. Russell, the Times 
correspondent, put up ; and thanking him for his 



CH. XXVIII. VERSAILLES REVLSITED. 337 

great kindness I bade him good-bye. This 
was the last time I saw him. It would be 
difficult to do justice to the character of this noble 
soldier ; a more generous heart or more gracious 
disposition, I never had the privilege of knowing. 
My business now was to search for lodgings, 
I could no longer requisition one at the Mayor's, 
since I had lost all my papers. Having secured a 
niche, I resolved to call at the Hotel des Reser- 
voirs, where I knew I should find Prince Pless, 
or some one who would recognise me, and get me 
these important testimonials. By way of intro- 
duction I looked in at the office of the Military 
Ambulance stores, and inquired whether all those 
belonging to the Anglo-American Corps had 
been taken to Orleans or not. This was a happy 
thought ; for they informed me that all the par- 
ticulars I required would be given by Major de 
Haveland in the Rue des Reservoirs, — the Maltese 
knight to whom I have referred as visiting us at 
Ste. Euverte. This was what I wanted. I called 
at once on the Major, and he undertook to see the 
commandant of the place, and explain the whole 
matter. Thus, thanks to his kind attention, I 
was given the necessary papers next day, and 
that evening I chartered a car to Etampes, from 
which place I could get to Orleans by train. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

IN ORLEANS ONCE MORE. — PEACE IS SIGNED. — AN 
EASY TIME. — SENDING AWAY THE CONVALES- 
CENTS. — THE AMBULANCE BROKEN UP. 

I HAD to bribe the driver whom 1 thus engaged 
with an extra napoleon, so afraid was he that his 
trap and horse would be seized ; but when I 
showed him my German papers he knew that he 
was safe. Accordingly, I started before daylight, 
and after a pleasant journey arrived at Etampes in 
the evening, soon enough to escape an awful 
downpour of rain, and to catch the night train to 
Orleans. 

The train was crowded with peasants, some of 
whom had no tickets, and it was amusing to watch 
the stratagems which they adopted in order to 
hide themselves from the German guard. This 
fellow was much too good-humoured and indifferent 
to pretend to see them, though all the while 
knowing their whereabouts, as I could tell by the 
twinkle in his eye when their crouching forms 
betrayed them. It was nothing to him, and he 
left them under the delusion that they had got 
to the blind side of their Prussian, — a parable 
(338) 



CH. XXIX. WELCOME BACK. 339 

which might serve to describe the whole French 
tactics during the war ! 

When I arrived at Orleans it was nearly mid- 
night, and as there were no vehicles at the 
terminus, I had to tramp across the town to the 
Quai du Chatelet, where the door was opened to 
me by our faithful Turco Jean. This barbarian, 
becoming excited at seeing an old friend, shrieked 
with delight, and gave utterance to much unintel- 
ligible jargon, accompanied by low bows, rever- 
ences, or salaams, all which, I believe, is the 
orthodox method of greeting adopted by Moham- 
medans. 

As I entered our general sitting-room, I heard 
a ringing cheer from my confreres, who, in this 
most cordial manner, welcomed me back. I 
confess that I felt pleased and proud at this 
spontaneous outburst of kindly feeling. 

Nigger Charlie, who had been grinning from 
ear to ear for the past ten minutes, now disap- 
peared, and after the lapse of a quarter of an hour, 
came back, bearing in his hands the historic bowl 
of punch. That was his salaam, — not unkindly 
meant either. 

Next morning I went to see my patients in 
the Convent of Notre Dame des Recouvrances. 
Mere Pauline, Soeur Leopoldine, and the other 
sisters welcomed me into the wards, and Henry 
Schroeder cried so heartily that I had to put it 
down to the weakness from which he was suffer ine. 



340 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxix. 

Young Riidiger cheered, Kirkhof clapped his 
hands, and all my patients looked pleased, — which 
things I mention as giving me a real gratification 
in themselves, and showing what rewards a doctor 
who tries to do his duty may expect. 

I went on to see other patients, among whom 
were two in the Rue de Bourdon Blanc. One of 
these had had his knee joint resected, an operation 
in which both ends of the bones of the leg and 
thigh, which enter into the formation of the knee 
joint, were removed, the limb remaining otherwise 
intact. It was at this period rather a rare opera- 
tion, and was performed by Dr. Nussbaum of 
Munich, who then handed the invalid into my 
care. The limb was swung in an anterior 
suspension-splint, which was Dr. May's improve- 
ment on the American splint by Smyth. This was 
a case in which Dr. Nussbaum felt deeply in- 
terested, and he inquired of me repeatedly as to 
its progress. 

After one or two days I fell again into the 
routine, and was running along smoothly in the 
old groove, which I had left for so short but event- 
ful a period. Several weeks now passed away 
without anything worthy to chronicle, if I may 
judge from the blank in my notes. The work 
had become easier, and my patients, though 
scattered about the town, had become fewer and 
less troublesome to manage as they approached 
convalescence. 



CH. XXIX. PEACE. 341 

We had now much time to ourselves. The 
armistice continued, and no fresh supplies of 
wounded came in. Yet, we did not feel sure 
that hostilities would not recommence, until on 
the afternoon of the 26th of February, news 
reached us that peace was signed. Yes, peace 
was signed ! The joyful tidings spread quickly 
through the town, and exclamations and prayers of 
joy and gratitude were on every tongue ; nor was 
it easy to discern whether the townsfolk or the 
garrison were filled with greater gladness at the 
news. Indeed, the change that came over the face 
of the town in an hour was marvellous. Civilians 
rushed about the streets shaking hands in the most 
frantic style with those German soldiers who had 
hitherto been their deadly enemies, while the 
soldiers cordially returned these friendly advances 
on the part of their vanquished foes. As the evening 
drew near, the cheering and confusion increased, 
and the streets became crowded with a mixed 
assembly of soldiers and inhabitants. Nor did 
the authorities appear to object ; nay, all the 
military bands in the town turned out, and 
marched up and down the principal streets, play- 
ing popular French airs, and even the " Marseil- 
laise ". 

It was amusing as well as touching to see 
these mighty processions, the bands in front, and 
long lines of French and Prussians linked arm in 
arm, marching some fourteen abreast, and keeping 



342 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxix. 

time with the music. Thus in one hour did the 
memory of yesterday seem quite obliterated. 
While I was following one of the bands, and 
listening to the stirring airs which they were 
playing, I descried a white figure among the 
crowd, and what was my astonishment to find 
that this was Nigger Charlie ! Still in his white 
kitchen-suit, with white sleeves and a paper cap, 
he was carrying on all kinds of antics, and grin- 
ning for the amusement of the juveniles who 
crowded after the procession. 

Our duties now became so light that T was 
able to do all my work in a couple of hours, and 
generally had the rest of the day to myself This 
time I employed in making excursions on horse- 
back and on foot, to all the places of interest in 
the adjoining country. I could always get a 
mount from the ambulance equerry when I wished 
for one. As March came on, the weather grew 
fine, and I rode out to Gien, Chevilly, Patay, and 
Coulmiers ; but Olivet and its neighbourhood, and 
the picturesque Source du Loiret, were especially 
my attraction. Dr. Warren, who, like me, pre- 
ferred walking to riding, often accompanied me 
on these excursions. 

But time rolled on, and we found ourselves in 
March, with March weather accompanying it. I 
now met Miss Pearson and Miss McLoughlin, 
who gave me a stirring account of themselves and 
their doings during the battles outside Orleans ; 



CH. XXIX. AMBULANCE DISBANDED. 343 

for the convent, full of wounded, of which they 
were in charge, was situated in the suburbs. 
The adventures undergone and the work accom- 
plished by these energetic English ladies have 
been admirably described in the volume which 
relates their experiences during the Campaigns of 
1870 and 187 1. Too much praise cannot be 
given for the untiring zeal and heroic self-sacrifice 
which they always displayed in the discharge of 
their mission, under circumstances which were 
constantly most trying. 

On the 3rd, Dr. Pratt, who had some time 
back returned from headquarters at Versailles, 
announced to us that our mission was over, and 
he must now disband us. We agreed, however, 
not to separate until we got to Paris, for which 
place we were to start in a few days. There 
we should meet Dr. Duplessy, and the heads 
of the French Ambulance, into whose hands we 
could deliver the horses, waggons, and mfirmie7's 
that we had originally received from them in the 
Palais de 1' Industrie. We wished, also, in the 
presence of the above-named gentleman, to give 
an account of our stewardship, so far as the care 
of the French wounded in our charge was con- 
cerned. Accordingly, every preparation was 
made to start. I sent away the wounded that 
were on my hands, including poor Henry 
Schroeder, who said, that since I must leave, he 
would leave too. I had the poor fellow conveyed 



344 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxix. 

through town to his railway carriage in a sedan 
chair. When we parted he shed bitter tears. 

I had grave misgivings for the ultimate 
success of his case, for his arm was suppurating 
profusely ; and he had that delusive hectic fresh- 
ness of appearance, which I had now learnt was 
so untoward a symptom. Afterwards I had the 
pain of hearing from his brother that my fore- 
bodings were verified, and that Henry died soon 
after his return home. 

On the 4th of March, we had finished nearly 
all our preparations ; and our kind host Proust 
seemed inconsolable at losing Warren and myself, 
towards both of whom he had evinced a parental 
affection. But my time to leave Orleans was 
not yet come. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

I FALL ILL OF FEVER. — GERMANS LEAVE ORLEANS. — 
MY BROTHER ARRIVES FROM HOME. — END OF MY 
EXPERIENCES AS A FIELD SURGEON. 

One bright evening, as I was out walking on the 
bank of the Loire, I had felt a dead dull pain at 
the back of my head and in my back. On my 
return the pain became so intense that I was 
obliged to go straight to bed. All night and 
next day I felt very unwell, and Dr. Bouglet 
was sent for. He pronounced me to be in fever, 
of what kind he could not exactly tell ; but as 
small-pox was prevalent in Orleans, he feared it 
might be that. Subsequently he came to the 
conclusion that it was low fever of a typhoid sort. 

On the 6th, I felt very ill indeed, and beyond 
a dim recollection of saying good-bye to my 
confreres, and the consciousness that my old 
friends Warren and Hayden were continually at 
my bedside, I can recall but little of what passed 
around me for the next fortnight. 

In a few days all the members of the /\nglo- 
American Ambulance, who had been my friends 
and companions throughout this adventurous 
(345) . 



346 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxx. 

campaign, were off to Paris. So there was I in 
No. 12 Rue Royale, away from home, and pros- 
trated by a dangerous illness. To those who 
read this, it may appear that I was alone and 
friendless. But it was not so. For no father's 
care could have been more tender, no mother's 
solicitude more lavish, than that bestowed upon 
me by M. and Madame Proust, on the one hand, 
and, on the other, by my guardian angel and 
nurse, Sceur Berthe, from Notre Dame des 
Recouvrances, 

During five long weeks, this indefatigable 
woman never left my bedside day or night, save for 
an interval of an hour or so. She had been work- 
ing under me in the Hospitals, attending the 
wounded for many months ; and to her valuable 
and skilful aid I owe any success which may have 
attended my efforts on behalf of the patients in 
those wards. Now this good sister saw me, a 
stranger, but a fellow-labourer in the same cause, 
struck down at the end of the campaign ; and 
she bestowed upon me, as she was wont to bestow 
upon them, with that grace of manner and beaming 
kindness which characterised all she undertook, 
the same devoted attentions. It was a privilege 
to be ill in her hands. I learned much from her ; 
and I should be ungrateful indeed, were I to for- 
get the lessons which her refinement, self-sacrifice, 
and unwearied good temper printed on my mind 
and heart during those weeks. 



CH. XXX. ILLNESS. 347 

Dr. Bouglet came and went, sometimes making 
a second visit the same day. Evidently he thought 
my case a serious one. At the end of about ten 
days from the beginning of my ihness, I became 
so stupid and lethargic that I remembered nothing 
for the next fortnight, save that during one of my 
lucid intervals I saw Hayden, Parker, and Warren 
at my bedside, the first two having come from 
Paris for the express purpose of seeing me. 
Warren stayed until I was getting better, and 
wrote home for me. He finished his letter, but 
almost failed in getting the address from me, so 
weak was my mind at the* time. Hayden, on 
being questioned by one of the townspeople as to 
the chances of my recovery, answered, that it was 
all up with me. Sceur Berthe, likewise, wrote to 
Scarteen in my name ; but I could do nothing oi^ 
the kind myself. 

About the fourth week I had completely re- 
gained consciousness, and was daily getting 
stronger ; but that was not saying much, for I 
could neither turn in bed, nor lift an arm. I was 
simply skin and bone, and used to wonder how 
my knuckles did not come through the skin. 
When I looked at my limbs, I began to cry like a 
child, and this loss of control over my feelings 
was particularly distressing to me. They never 
let me see myself in the mirror until I w^as far 
advanced on the road to recovery ; and then I 
beheld what looked more like a corpse than my 



34^ WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxx. 

living self, and was much taken aback. When 
allowed to speak, many hours were spent in 
pleasant conversation with Madame and M. 
Proust, and with Soeur Berthe, who was always 
an interesting and lively companion. She used 
to pray with me, read to me, both serious and 
amusing books, and instruct me in the secrets of 
the science of which she was mistress. She 
would brings me fiow^ers and fruit according to 
my fancy. And so the weeks passed by, and, 
with the assistance of such good friends, they 
were pleasant enough. 

Before my brairt got quite clear, I used to 
imagine that I saw numbers of my friends at 
home, and was talking with them. Nor were 
the persons phantoms. For I spoke to those 
who happened to be paying me a visit to see how 
I was going on. Upon discovering my mistake, 
I felt it bitterly, but was soon put into good 
humour again by Soeur Berthe. I have not 
yet said much of my hostess Madame Proust ; 
not because she was wanting in any way, — far 
from it, indeed. That kind lady put her house 
and all therein at my disposal, and was a most 
agreeable and sympathetic friend. Occasionally, 
after returning from her walk in the town, she 
would tell me of the people who were inquiring 
for me, which was an equal pleasure and help 
to a convalescent. 

Just about this stage of my illness the Ger- 



CH. XXX. THE GERMANS MARCH HOME. 349 

mans evacuated Orleans. I can remember well 
hearing the last of their bands playing in one 
direction ; while the French were advancing in the 
other. This was succeeded after a while by 
frantic cheering, by the din of music, and the 
tramp of soldiery, — a tramp which I knew to be 
very different from the measured tread that I had 
heard an hour previously. And so had come and 
gone the second German occupation of Orleans, — 
an epoch in the life of those who took any share 
in it which is indelibly stamped on their memories. 
As time wore on I was removed to the arm- 
chair by the open window, where I used to remain 
for several hours every day, when the weather 
permitted, propped up with pillows and covered 
against the cold. Many of the passers-by seemed 
to think me worth looking at, for quite a number 
stopped in very French fashion to stare up at mie. 
This was only curiosity, and by no means rudeness. 
At last I was able to go out, or rather to hobble 
out ; and for the first few days had enough to do 
to keep on my legs while shaking hands with the 
many kind and friendly townspeople who came 
forward to greet me. I would go into one shop 
and rest there for a few minutes, and then move 
a few doors further on. Thus I spent some 
hours every day. Many of our old Ambulance 
friends and acquaintances came also to pay me a 
visit. There was no end, I may truly say, to 
the kindness I met with on all sides. 



3 so WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxx. 

One day I went to the Church of St. Aignan, 
which is at the end of the Quai du Chatelet, to hear 
a grand High Mass, offered up for the regenera- 
tion of France, which was attended by the dlite 
of Orleans. I settled myself in a chair at the end 
of the church, and presently the ceremonies 
began by a procession. As it passed me a priest 
stepped out of the ranks, and, taking me by the 
arm, led me up the church, and, to my great 
confusion, showed me into one of the stalls in the 
Sanctuary. I never saw the priest before or 
since. 

When I look back on those days of trial and 
sickness, and how I lay on that bed unable to 
stir hand or foot, I remember what a longing 
came over me for the sight of one familiar face, 
though but for a few minutes. One was still in 
one's youth ; and I fancied, whilst my head was 
buried in the pillow, that if I could but speak 
just a few words to my mother, or to some one 
at home, it would be enough to cure me. Until 
then, I never knew how much I loved my native 
land, or realised my heart's deep devotion to that 
little spot called home, and to all those dear 
friends about it. 

Little by little I came round. I used to drive 
out with M. Proust to his lovely little country 
house near Olivet, and visited the camellia 
houses and orange groves, all of which were under 
glass, at the great chateau there. But during my 



CH. XXX. MY BROTHER ARRIVES. 35 1 

convalescence, the event of the day was the morn- 
ing post, which brought my letters and news- 
papers, every line of which I read and re-read 
with the greatest avidity, until I knew them by 
heart. One letter in particular, from a great 
friend of mine, was so amusing, and had such a 
reviving effect on me, that I read it certainly a 
score of times, and I laughed as much the last 
time as the first. 

I was strictly prohibited by the doctor from 
writing ; but in spite of his orders I coaxed Sceur 
Berthe to let me have pen and ink. Her 
consternation was great when she saw me 
fainting from the exertion. One letter I wrote 
to my mother while my hand was held on the 
paper, placed on a desk before me ; so that I 
had only, as it were, to form the characters. I 
used to write a sentence or two every day, and 
so put them together bit by bit. I compiled 
several commonplace and uninteresting produc- 
tions, and sent them home in great glee at the 
success of my performance. I could not guess 
how startled they would be at receiving these 
curious epistles, some of which afterwards came 
back into my hands. They resolved to send my 
brother Arthur to fetch me home ; and he tra- 
velled immediately to Orleans, where he received 
a hearty welcome from M. and Madame Proust 
and my other friends. 

I insert as an Appendix, from the journal 



352 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxx. 

which my brother kept, the impressions made on 
us both by a visit we paid to the field of Coulmiers. 

It was my last view of the scenes in which I 
had taken part. 

My brother arrived on 8th April, and on the 
2 1 St we bade farewell to our home in the Rue 
Royale, and the friends who had made it such, 
and set out on our journey to Ireland. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

AN APPENDIX. — M. AND MADAME COLOMBIER. — VISIT 
TO THE BATTLEFIELD OF COULMIERS. — THE SOLE 
FRENCH VICTORY. — CONCLUSION. 

{From Arthur Ryan's Diaiy, Wednesday, igth April.) 

Our dejeuner had not long been over when a 
carriage drove up, and CharHe bade me prepare 
for a drive with some friends into the country. 
We wished M. and Madame Proust good-bye 
for the day, and stepped into the carriage, where 
our new host and hostess were awaiting us. M. 
and Madame Colombier welcomed me cordially 
as the brother of their friend, and I was not long 
in their company before I knew how truly they 
had been such to him. M. Colombier had been 
a Papal Zouave, but, on the outbreak of the 
Franco-Prussian war, had joined the ranks of his 
countrymen. A middle-aged man with a frank 
warm manner, and evidently very proud of his 
wife, — as well he might be. I have seen but little 
of men or women ; but I fancy that many years 
of experience may fail to remove Madame Colom- 
bier from the place she gained that day in my 
23 (353) 



354 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxxi. 

estimation. She was a heroine, and, what is 
still rarer, a humble heroine. Being a Canadian 
she spoke English very fairly ; and as we drove 
along she told us many stories of her war ex- 
periences, and with so much gaiety that I felt it 
hard to believe those experiences had been so 
often bitter ones to her and her husband. Priva- 
tions, loss of property, personal danger, ail were 
related as if she were inventing and not recording ; 
all were jested about whenever they affected only 
herself. But when she spoke of the sufferings 
of others, of her husband s danger, of the poor 
soldiers whom she had lodged and tended to the 
last, then her woman's heart revealed itself, and 
showed that though gay it was tender, though 
buoyant it was thoroughly unselfish ; and, through 
all, she seemed so perfectly unconscious of any 
merit on her part, that one would have thought 
that her services had been remunerative or a part 
of her ordinary duty, instead of absorbing as they 
did the great part of what the war had left them. 
A shower came on, and to my surprise 
Madame Colombier unpinned her warm shawl, 
and insisted in wrapping Charlie up in it, lest 
in his weak state he should take cold. " This is 
my campaigning dress," said she, as I expressed 
my fears as to the insufficiency of her black silk 
dress in the teeth of the driving rain ; but little 
she seemed to care, her only anxiety being to 
shield the " poor invalid " from the storm. 



CH. XXXI. TRACES OF FIGHTING. 355 

After what seemed a short drive, we were so 
pleasant together, we came to the battlefield 
of Coulmiers. On each side of the road the 
ground was littered with the debris of camp fires, 
and with the straw that had served to keep some 
of the soldiers off the frosty ground, as they slept 
after their fight. Deep ruts — ploughed by the 
wheels of the guns, cut up the roads and fields ; 
but beyond these marks, and the general bare, 
down-trodden look of the ground, nothing re- 
mained to speak of the terrible battle that had so 
lately covered these fields with the dead and 
dying. But as we drove into the Chateau 
Renardier, M. Colombier's country place, the 
sad remembrances of war were multiplied ten- 
fold. The great trees on each side of the drive 
were riven in all directions, by the shot and 
shells ; and I remarked several thick firs cut clean 
in two by what was evidently a single shot. 

But here we are at the Chateau. It was a 
large house, in the regular French style, prettily 
situated in the midst of a well-planted lawn. It 
was not, however, at the architecture of the house, 
nor at the beauties of the lawn, that I looked, as 
I drove up. No : what riveted my gaze was 
the number of round holes that perforated the 
front in every direction. The shells had done 
their work well ; shattered windows and pierced 
walls were sorry sights for M. Colombier to show 
his guests ; and little more could be seen of the 



356 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxxi. 

Chateau Renardler on the front side. As we 
entered, and passed from room to room, we 
began to realise the full extent of the damage. 
Deep stains of blood were on the dark oak floors, 
which in many places had been splintered by the 
bursting shells. Madame Colombier took us to 
her boudoir. Panelled in gold and white, it must 
have been a lovely room — but now it was a wreck. 
Right through the mirrors had the splintered 
shells crashed ; in one corner of the rich ceiling 
the sky was visible through a large shot hole, — - 
''and here," said our hostess, "here they used to 
skin their sheep " ; and she pointed to the 
chandelier, which had sadly suffered from its 
unwonted use, and beneath which the floor was 
stained, this time not with human gore. "This 
is my room," said M. Colombier, as he showed 
us into the billiard room. The slate table was 
cracked in two, and on the tattered green cloth 
lay the remains of the oats which had fed the 
horses ; for that room had served as a stable. 

We passed into the garden. It had been the 
scene of a French bayonet charge ; and little 
shape remained, or sign of garden beauty, save 
that in one trampled bed, we found some plants 
of the lily of the valley sprouting to the early 
spring sunshine. Deep in the gravel walks, and 
through the once well-trimmed turf, had the 
wheels of the guns sunk, as the Prussians made 
their hasty retreat before the victorious French ; 



CH. XXXI. A DESOLATED GARDEN. 357 

and it must have been some consolation to the 
fair owner of this desolated garden, to think that 
it was the scene of the solitary French victory 
in that disastrous war. 

In the front garden every vine was dead, cut 
from the wall. For the wall had served as a 
shelter for the German soldiers, and was pierced 
all along for rifle rests, and by every hole was 
a heap of empty cartridge cases. The green- 
house and conservatories, — who shall tell their 
ruin ? Glass is a poor protection against artillery, 
and the fierce frost had completed the work. 
There were the plants all arranged on their 
stands ; there stood the orange trees — all were 
dead and brown — not a twig was alive. I 
thought of my mother and her flowers, as Madame 
Colombier turned with a sigh from her ruined 
conservatory, and walked back through the 
melancholy garden. But she was gay enough, 
though her husband seemed to feel deeply the 
destruction of his lovely home. He had been 
married but five years, and had spent much 
money in making this a happy spot for his wife 
and children — and now, the wreck ! But even 
M. Colombier laughed with us when we came to 
the piles of empty bottles that lay in the yard ; 
they were all that was left of two well-filled cellars. 
The French soldiers had celebrated their victory 
at the expense of the master of the Chateau 
Renardier. 



358 WITH AN AMBULANCE. ch. xxxi. 

In the coach-house were Madame Colombier's 
two broughams ; they had been used in the 
battle as temporary fortifications, and were 
literally riddled with bullets. We walked to the 
fish pond — a piece of ornamental w^ater in the 
lawn. It had been netted, and not a fish was 
left. I stumbled on something under the trees 
by its brink. It was a Prussian cavalry saddle, 
not a comfortable-looking thing, thought I, as I 
surveyed the angular hide-covered wood, — but 
certainly economical when it is so easily lost. 
But evening was coming on ; so having had lunch 
in the Chateau (the strangest ruin I ever pic- 
nicked in), we bade adieu to Renardier, and 
drove back to Orleans. 

M. Colombier's house there had, like his 
country chateau, been used during the war as a 
little hospital ; and Charlie told me, as he waited 
in the drawing-room before dinner, how many 
wounded and dying inmates that room lately 
had. 

Dinner was served in an ante-room, for which 
Madame Colombier made her apologies, as her 
dining-room was occupied — by whom we pres- 
ently saw. Having dined heartily, and been 
highly amused by the penalties with which the 
children threatened the Prussians, — such as feed- 
ing them on poisonous mushrooms, wood, and 
such like, I was surprised by Madame Colombier 
taking out a cigar case, handing it round, and 



CH. XXXI. A MINISTERING ANGEL. 359 

helping- herself. " Necessity has made me a 
smoker," she laughingly observed, as she saw 
my ill-concealed wonder ; and if any lady would 
condemn my hostess for her cigar, let her follow 
Madame Colombier as she slips quietly out ; and 
see for herself how false is that delicacy which 
would place a difficulty in the way of true and 
heroic Christian charity. We were not long 
before we followed our hostess. We found her 
in her dining-room, which had been fitted up as 
a temporary hospital. There she was tending 
the wound of her last patient, with a skill which 
was the result of long and hard-earned experience. 
And here we will leave Madame Colombier, with 
the firm trust that her unselfish charity and un- 
ostentatious heroism will not go unrewarded 
before Him, who has promised to repay a cup of 
cold water oriven for His sake. 



EPILOGUE. 

A QUARTER of a century has elapsed since the 
occurrence of the events which I have described. 
When I view the scenes of those eventful days 
through this long vista, and when sometimes for 
a moment one particular picture of hospital or 
camp life presents itself before my mind, I start 
as if awakened from a troubled dream, to find 
there still the shape and form of fact. 

The years have come and gone, and with them 
have passed away many of the principal actors in 
that great drama. 

Wilhelm, Napoleon, Moltke, the Crown Prince, 
the Red Prince, Gambetta, d'Aureille de Paladine, 
Bazaine, MacMahon, have disappeared from the 
stage. 

Modern surgery and medicine have lost some 
of their ablest pioneers in Langenbeck, Nussbaum, 
Esmark and Marion Sims ; and I personally have 
to mourn for many who were kindly and helpful 
to me in those days, amongst them M. and 
Madame Proust and General Charles Bracken- 
bury. 

(360) 



EPILOGUE. 361 

I have often wished to revisit Sedan and 
Orleans ; but the desire to make the most of a 
somewhat Hmited holiday-time, and to gain fresh 
experiences, has always led me to new districts 
and countries previously unknown to me, and I 
have never had my wish fulfilled. I am glad to 
say, however, that I never quite lost sight of my 
old friends M. and Madame Proust, and a visit 
from their nephew revived all the old associations 
and remembrances afresh. 

It may interest my readers to hear something 
of our ambulance surgeons. Sir William Mac- 
Cormac, who succeeded Marion Sims at Sedan, 
is now one of the greatest living authorities on 
military surgery and gunshot wounds. His 
colleague Dr. Mackellar is distinguished on the 
staff of St. Thomas's Hospital, and Dr. Parker 
is an eminent London specialist. The others, 
scattered over the face of the globe, I have lost 
sight of, but would fain hope one day to meet 
some of them again. 

One object I have had in view in publishing 
these notes may be worthy of mention. 

As I have tried to write down exactly what 
I witnessed, they may help to afford some idea of 
what war really means, — war as a hard practical 
fact — stripped of all the glamour, and poetry, and 
pride of conquest, that are so attractive when seen 
in history. 

Even from mv own observations I could 



362 EPILOGUE. 

gather that all is not victory to the victors them- 
selves. 

When the German soldiery learnt that Louis 
Napoleon was present in the trap at Sedan, there 
broke out among them the wildest exhibition of 
delight ; for they believed — wrongly as it came to 
pass — that his capture would end the war and 
enable them to go back to their homes. And 
when peace was finally proclaimed, the Germans 
in Orleans were no less demonstrative and 
enthusiastic than the French, whose cup of suffer- 
ing had been filled to overflowing. 

Now-a-days there is perhaps a tendency to 
undervalue this aspect of the case. People talk 
very lightly of the great European war that is 
said to be inevitable. It can do no harm to 
measure as far as possible what such a war may 
mean. 

Those who count the cost in advance are far 
more likely to be able to meet it, should the neces- 
sity arise, and to bear themselves resolutely and 
bravely to the end, whatever the event, than those 
who rush blindly forward, depending mainly on 
enthusiasm for organisation, and on the reputation 
of the past to achieve victories in the future. That 
seems to be the great lesson taught by the war 
of 1870 and 1 87 1. 

There never was, perhaps, a more flagrant 
instance of disregard for that wise Shakesperian 
saying familiar to us all : — 



EPILOGUE. 363 

" Beware 
Of entrance to a quarrel : but, being in, 
Bear it that the opposed may beware of thee ". 

However, my readers will probably be dis- 
posed to form their own opinions on these 
subjects, and will have far more attractive material 
elsewhere on which to found them. 

Before concluding, I think I am not out of 
order in mentioning a notable occurrence which 
took place during the year 1895, ^^^ which to 
my mind affords a favourable augury for the 
future of France. I mean the celebration at 
Orleans, with all the pomp and ceremony due to 
the occasion, of the festival of Jeanne d'Arc. 
From the general enthusiasm then displayed by 
the French people, I cannot help thinking that 
greater things and brighter hopes are in store 
for that beautiful country, the fortunes of which 
have ever been as dramatic in their circumstances 
as they are interesting in themselves. 

Finally, I wish here to record, if I may, my 
own admiration, sympathy and delight in the 
bright and genial character of the French, and to 
bear witness that as this feeling was at first so it 
is now ; nor do I think it will ever change. 

My task is finished. Though the re-writing of 
these notes has been a source of great pleasure to 
me, bringing back as it does old memories and 
picturesque scenes so vividly, yet I lay aside the 



364 EPILOGUE. 

unaccustomed pen with — perhaps not unnaturally 
— some little sense of relief, trusting to the in- 
dulgence of my readers that they will overlook 
the blemishes incidental to a first literary per- 
formance. And thus I bid them farewell. 



THE END. 



INDEX. 



A. 

Ambulance, Anglo-American : staff, 
27 ; labours at Sedan, 47-59, 79; 
routine, 71; discipline, 73; ad- 
ditional staff, 89 ; number of 
operations, 93 ; use of antiseptics, 
96 ; transferred to German side, 
108, 143 ; fresh arrangements, 
115; leaves Sedan, 116; at; 
Orleans, 160 to end ; routine i 
there, 166; at battle of Coulmiers, | 
194-207 ; evacuates terminus, 215 ; 
given French infirmiers, 223 ; 
visited by M. Cremieux, 231; 
critical position, 232 ; at battle 
of Neuville, 242, seq.; at Patay, ; 
253 ; at Beaugency, 283 ; dis- 
banded, 343, 

Ambulance, Belgian, 21. 

Ambulance, French, 16 ; want of 
discipline, 82, 103, 114; broken 
up, 121. 

Ambulance, German : treatment of 
French wounded, 81 ; at Floing, 
107 ; amputation. Dr. Ryan's 
first, 166. 

Antiseptic treatment, 96. 

Ardennes, Forest, 113. 

Arlon, 115. 

Arpajon, 153. 

Artenay, 154. 

Asfeld, Caserne d', 39-49, 59. 

B. 

Bavarians : cavalry, 140 ; occupy 
Orleans, 176 ; fighting there, 
176 ; their religious behaviour, 
185 ; losses, 189 ; evacuate 
Orleans, 190; at Coulmiers, 195; 
retreat, 196 ; leave dead on field, 
200 ; at Beaugency, 285 ; despised 
by Prussians, 284. 



Bayonne, Pere, 43, 94. 
Bazeilles, burning of, 53, 56, 8 

visit to, 87. 
Beaugency, battle, 282, seq. 
Beaumont, village, 35. 
Beck, 8g, 107. 

Berthe, Sceur, 235, 303, 348, 351. 
Bilotte, Intendant Militaire, 

Sedan, 72. 
Bismarck, Count, 83, 147, 217. 

Black and Tans," the, 113. 



open-air 
Orleans, 



Blood poisonmg, gi 

treatment, 108 ; 

179, 183, 310. 
Bonjour, M., 252. 
Bouglet, Dr., 345, seq. 
Bouillon, town and castle, 112, 117. 
Bourbaki, General, 226. 
Brackenbury, Captain C, 115, 121, 

334-337- 
Brussels, 5, 8, 118, 120. 
Burnside, General, 142. 

C. 

Cahirmee, Horse Fair, 119. 
Carignan, village, 22. 
Caserne d'Asfeld, 39, seq., 49, 59. 
Caserne St. Charles, at Orleans, 

217-219. 
Cases, remarkable, 179, andpasshn. 
Cathedral, Orleans, desecrated, 280. 
Charlie, Nigger, 61, 94, 142, 233, 

307, 339, 342. 
Chateau Bellevue, 83, 114. 
Chateau Mouville, 56. 
Chateau Renardier, 196, 207, 354. 
Chatelet, Marquise de, 324. 
Chatelet, Quai du, 160 to end. 
Cavalry, African, 255. 
Cavalry, Bavarian, 140. 
Chevilly, village, 56 ; battle, 

251. seq. 



366 



INDEX. 



Chivry, 318. 

Chizelles, Vicomte de, 32. 
Churches desecrated, 153. 
Colombier, M. and Mme., 353, seq. 
Conscrit, Le, incident resembling, 

99. 
Corbeil, 312, 314. 
Coulmiers, battle, 191, 193, 209; 

visit to field, 353 seq. 
Cremieux, M., 231. 

D. 

D'Allaine, M., 217. 
Debacle, La, accuracy of, 57. 
D'Iges, Isle of, 75, seq. 
Dilger, Martin, 181, 218, 309, 313. 
Donchery, village, 41. 
Douai, General, killed, 100. 
Douzy, village, burning of, 42. 
Ducrot, General, 48, 251, 
Dupanloup, Bishop, 289. 

E. 

Etampes, 154, 197, 338. 
Eugenie, Empress, 17. 
Euverte, Ste., Church of, 252, 273, 
seq. ; evacuated, 310. 

F. 

Failly de, General, 34. 

Plavigny, Count de, 29. 

Floing, Plain of, 39. 

Francs-Tireurs, 126, 177. 

Francs-Tireurs, American, 226. 

Frank, Dr., 26, 35, 55, 56, 115. 

Frazer, Captain, 232, 287. 

Frederick Charles, Prince, enters 
Orleans, 274-276. 

Frenois, village, 40, 83. 

French : commissariat breaks 
down, 34 ; Marines, 46 ; also at 
Orleans, 228 ; bravery at Patay, 
261 ; prisoners, 75 ; wounded, 
81 ; miserable clothing, 212 ; 
want of physique, 214 ; imagin- 
ary victories, 248. 

Fritz, Dr., 312. 

Fugitive peasants, 157. 



Gaillon, 124. 
Gambetta, M., 



Garde Nationale, 23. 

Garenne, Bois de, 53, 64, 67. 

Geneva Convention, 223. 

German : ambition, 276 ; treat- 
ment of French prisoners, 281 ; 
character and manners, 170 ; 
piety, 185. 

Giant, a Bavarian, 204, 274. 

Glenbane, 132. 

Gravelotte, battle of, 312. 

Gunboats on Loire, 229. 

H. 

Hayden, Frank, 37, 60, 74, 77, 83, 

112, 345, 347. 
Haveland, Major de, 305, 337. 
Hewitt, Dr., 43, 68, 115, 118, 125, 

145, 154- 

HohenzoUern, Prince of, 141. 

Holt White, Mr., 306. 

Horses, suffering of, 48, 74. 

Hospital: at Sedan, 39, 52-116 ; at 
Balan, 56 ; at Orleans railway, 
162 ; invaded by townsfolk, 202 ; 
au Grand Marche, 217 ; at 
Caserne St. Charles, 2, 8 ; at 
Ste. Euverte, 273-310. 

Hozier, Colonel, 232, 287, 307. 

I. 

Illustrated London News, 8g. 
Isle d'Iges, 75, seq. 



Jean the Turco, 116, L67, 339. 
Jeanne d'Arc, 160, 192. 
Jews, 314. 
Journalism, French, 248. 

L. 

Labouchere, M., ig, 21, 25. 
Lagny, 315, 323. 
Langenbeck, Prof., 286. 
Leopoldine, Soeur, 308, 339. 
Levy, M. Michel, 14, 
Libramont, 118. 
Lille, 122. 

Loire, Army of the, 158, 254, 263. 
Lloyd-I/indsay, Col., 27, 143, 333. 
Lundon, Mr. W., 132. 



INDEX. 



367 



M. 

MacCormac, Dr. (now Sir W.), at 
Sedan, 47, 68, 70, go, 97, iii, 

115- 
Mackellar, Dr., 8g, 145, 209, 224, 

282. 
MacMahon, Marshal, 31, 83. 
Madelieie, La, 16, 28. 
Manners, F"rench, 161 ; German, 

148, 172. 
Mantes, 135, 138. 
Maps, requisitioned, 231. 
Marfee, Heights, 35, 41, seq. 
Marly, 140. 
May, Dr., 36, 47, 49, 71, 97, 99, 

114, 245, 282,340. 
McLoughlin, Miss, 8g, 260. 
Mejonelle, Mr., 306. 
Melun, Vicomte de, 4, 8, 15, 16, 

18, 20. 
Metz, 22 ; surrendered, 176, 188. 
Meuse, river, 37 ; bridge over, 84. 
Mezieres, village, burnt, 139. 
Moltke, General, 147. 
Monod, M. Chaplain, 94. 
Mont Valerien, 140. 
Mouzon, village, 38. 

N. 

Napoleon HI., 33, 38, 83. 
Neuville, 236 ; fighting at, 243, 251. 
Nicholl, Dr., 47, 115, 
Nihill, T., Fenian exile, 131. 
Nussbaum, Prof., 162, 340. 

O. 

O'Hanlon, Mme., 178. 

Olivet, 350. 

Orleans : march to, 154 ; entering, 
158 ; in Quai du Chatelet, 160, 
seq. ; at railway, 162-215 ; Place 
Martroi, 168 ; state of siege, 172 ; 
shop windows, 172 ; Bavarians 
evacuate, 190 ; hospital invaded, 
203 ; ambulance returns, 207 ; 
French enter, 210 ; French Marines 
arrive, 228 ; Ste. Euverte, 252 ; 
French retreat upon, 254 ; Ger- 
man assault, 263 ; street fighting, 
269 ; surrendered, 270 ; Red 
Prince enters, 274 ; chronic 
hunger, 277 ; prisoners in cathe- 



dral, 279 ; Christmas Day at, 
292 ; fined 600,000 francs, 311 ; 
evacuated by Germans, 349. 
Ostend, 4, 333. 



Paladine, General de, 197, seq. 
Paris, 11-25 ; siege of, 317. 
Parker, Dr., 95, 107, 115, 193, 202, 

270, 312, 343, 347. 
Patay, battle, 251-260. 
Pauline, Mere, 307, 339. 
Peace, signed, 341. 
Pearson, Miss, 89, 260, 347. 
Peasants, 134. 
Peyen, Louis, 99, loi. 
Poniatowsky, Princess, 26. 
Pontoon bridge over Meuse, 84 ; 

over Loire, 277 ; burnt, 266. 
Pratt, Dr., 95, 115, 120, 137, 141, 

151, 158, 161, 184, 226, 287, 311, 

343. 
Prince Frederick Charles, 276. 
Prince of Hohenzollern, 141. 
Prince Pless, 141-3, 337. 
Prisoners at Orleans, 279. 
Property, rights of, in war, 137. 
Proust, M. and Mme., 274, 346- 

350, seq. 
Prussians, 35, 41, 123, 140, 276, 

349- 

R. 

Raucourt, village, 35. 

Reilly, Colonel, 232. 

Renardier, Chateau de, 196, 207, 

354- 

Rouen, 123. 

Riidiger, 30S. 

Russell, Dr., of the Times, 45. 

Ryan, Arthur (now Canon), 352; 
diary, 353, seq. 

Ryan, Dr. C. E., leaves Dublin, 3 ; 
at Paris, 10-30 ; joins Anglo- 
Americans, 27 ; arrives at Sedan, 
31 ; first sight of Germans, 35 ; 
during ist Sept., 1870, 43-59 ; 
goes over battlefield, 61, seq. ; at 
Isle d'Iges, 75 ; visits Bazeilles, 
86 ; work in Caserne, 102 ; rides 
to Bouillon, 112 ; leaves Sedan, 
116; goes to Brussels, 118; 
to Rouen, 123 ; in Seine Valley, 



368 



INDEX. 



125 ; captured by Francs-Tireurs, 

126 ; to Mantes, 134 ; sees fight- 
ing from Marly, 140 ; at Ver- 
sailles, 141-150 ; marches to 
Orleans by Etampes, 153-160 ; 
enters to sound of cannon, 157 ; 
remarkable cases, 179 ; at battle 
of Chevilly, 195 ; visits that field, 
352, seq. ; in French camp, 199 ; 
back to Orleans, 207 ; sees French 
enter, 213 ; at Neuville, 242 ; 
sees battle of Patay, 259 ; and 
French retreat across Loire, 264 ; 
and burning of bridge, 266 ; 
during assault on Orleans, 271 ; 
sees entry of Red Prince, 274 ; 
at Ste. Euverte, 252-310; night 
duties, 292, seq. ; leaves Orleans 
on furlough, 312 ; journeys home 
by Lagny, Strasburg, etc., 315- 
332 ; recalled, 333 ; loses papers 
in Seine Valley, 335 ; at Ver- 
sailles, 336 ; in Orleans again, 
339 ; falls ill of typhoid fever, 
345 ; recovers and leaves Orleans, 
351- / 

s. -"^ 

Sailors, French, 46, 228, 261 ; Ger- 
man, 288. 

Schrenk, Captain, 177. 

Schroeder, Henry, 274, 285, 307, 343. 

Sedan, arrival at, 31 ; no surgeons 
or medical appliances, 38 ; de- 
fences, 39 ; battle, 43-53, seq. ; 
number of wounded, 53 ; field 
after the battle, 62-65 ; operations 
in hospital, 70, seq.^g-^; inhabit- 
ants shut up, 85 ; captured guns 
in Park, loi ; ambulance leaves, 
116. 

Seine Valley, 124, 336. 

Sentinels, French, 207 ; German, 
230. 

Sheridan, General, 142. 

Sherwell, Dr., 89, 208, 311. 

Sims, Dr. Marion, 27, 28, 31, 70, 

73. 94- 
Sims, Harry, 27. 
Soissons, 30. 



Soldiers' burials, 62. 

Southern exiles, 142. 

St. Aignan, Church, 350. 

St. Aubin, Louis, 45, 96, 5^^,, 116, 

St. Cloud, burnt, 146. 

St. Germain, 139 ; forest of, 336. 

St. Pierre, village, 124. 

Ste. Euverte, 252, 273, 276, 291, 306, 

310. 
Steel, General, 10. 
Strasburg, 328-330. 



Tann, Von der, his proclamation, 

174. 
Tilghman, Dr., 27, 36, 47, 184, 

200, 209, 282. 
Torcy, gate of Sedan, 32. 
Trochu, General, 251. 
Turcos, 51, 212, 240. 



'^ 



Uniforms, German, i6g. 
Urbonouski, Mme., 145. 

V. 

Vercourt, M. de, 4, 330. 
Verdiere, M. le, 20. 
Versailles, 145 ; the Chateau a 
hospital, 147, 287, 337. 

W. 
Walsh, Dr., 2. 
Warren, Dr., 89, 105, 193, 202, 253, 

269, 342, 345, 347- 
Webb, Dr., 70. 
Weissenburg, battle of, i, 50. 
William L, king and emperor, 147, 

323- 
Wimpffen, General de, 34, 48. 
Worth, I, 50. 
Wounded, number at Sedan, 53 ; 

in hospital, 70-93. 
Wyman, Dr., 115, 



Zouaves, 241. 

Zouave, Well of the, go. 



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